TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Papa John’s pizza
dough has landedThe coveted seven-figure advertising account for Papa John's Pizza is going to AdWorks Inc., with Honolulu account executive Patrick Bullard joining the agency as a vice president.
"It's a big win for us," AdWorks President Darrel Kloninger said, referring to both Bullard and the business. "It's also an ideal fit in the sense that they need promotions and tie-in relationships and that's an area we've been particularly successful in with our other clients."
A vice president with Myers Advertising Inc., recently acquired by Ogilvy & Mather Hawaii, Bullard is helping his clients with the transition while he's working himself out.
In the meantime, he's shuttling between three offices.
Bullard's Papa John's account could not follow Myers into the Ogilvy offices in the Topa Financial Center, since Ogilvy represents rival Pizza Hut.
Representing more than one pizza place is an obvious conflict but the whole fast food category is highly competitive as well.
"They're all vying for the same piece of the pie, the pizza pie," Bullard said.
When the acquisition was announced in late March, Papa John's President Jeff Jervik received several inquiries from agencies but he said that due to Bullard's successful work for the company its plans would rest on "what Patrick is going to do."
The day of the announcement, the phone started ringing with people asking "what are you going to do?" Bullard said. Offers came from some 20 agencies of all sizes and from people willing to help him set up his own shop.
"I was blown away," he said. "When people believe in you that much you don't want to let them down."
He starts at AdWorks no later than May 1, he said, after marking his six-year anniversary at Myers April 8.
It was a bittersweet day, he said. But as he turns 39 April 28, "I will truly have something to celebrate."
His other accounts at Myers included Hawaii National Bank, Kuakini Health Systems, Star Markets and the St. Louis Alumni Association. The latter will also follow him, said the St. Louis graduate.
Bullard's nearly 20-year career has included stints on the air and in promotions at radio stations; producing a swimsuit fashion series for Pay Per View; and advertising and marketing positions with Eagle Distributors, Morale Welfare and Recreation at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, CW Carter Auto Parts, Myers and -- back in the late '80s -- at Ogilvy.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com