Ally & Gargano
Encyclopedia
Ally & Gargano was an American
advertising agency
, which Advertising Age
named agency of the year in 1982. Famous clients included Volvo
, Saab
, Federal Express (the "speed talker" campaign), and Dunkin' Donuts
("Fred the Baker
" campaign).
Carl Ally
left Papert, Koenig, Lois in 1962 to open his own agency. Founded as Carl Ally, Inc. in 1963, Ally elevated partner Amil Gargano and renamed the firm Ally & Gargano in 1976. Ally sold his voting stock in the agency to Gargano in 1979, remaining chairman. That year Edward M. Gallagher joined A&G as chief operating officer, and quickly brought in the MCI
account.
The company went public in 1983, but a string of client losses and budget cutbacks increased internal tensions. Ally formally retired from Ally & Gargano on Jan. 1, 1985 and in June 1986, Marketing Corporation of America (MCA) bought Ally & Gargano for $26.6 million. After further account losses including the showcase Saab account, in December 1988, MCA sold control and 50 percent of the agency to Wesray Capital Corporation
for $30 million.
Carl Ally was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame
in 1991. Gargano left A&G that year when his contract expired, and the agency closed soon after.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, which Advertising Age
Advertising Age
Advertising Age is a magazine, delivering news, analysis and data on marketing and media. The magazine was started as a broadsheet newspaper in Chicago in 1930...
named agency of the year in 1982. Famous clients included Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
, Federal Express (the "speed talker" campaign), and Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
("Fred the Baker
Fred the Baker
Fred the Baker was a popular advertising character portrayed by actor Michael Vale in commercials for Dunkin' Donuts from 1982 to 1997. He was best known for his catchphrase "Time to make the donuts!" and the commercial that introduced the phrase was named one of the five best commercials of the...
" campaign).
Carl Ally
Carl Ally
Carl Joseph Ally was an American advertising executive who founded Ally & Gargano.He was inducted in the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame.-References:...
left Papert, Koenig, Lois in 1962 to open his own agency. Founded as Carl Ally, Inc. in 1963, Ally elevated partner Amil Gargano and renamed the firm Ally & Gargano in 1976. Ally sold his voting stock in the agency to Gargano in 1979, remaining chairman. That year Edward M. Gallagher joined A&G as chief operating officer, and quickly brought in the MCI
MCI Communications
MCI Communications Corp. was an American telecommunications company that was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes that led to the breakup of the AT&T monopoly of American telephony and ushered in the competitive long-distance telephone industry. It was headquartered in Washington,...
account.
The company went public in 1983, but a string of client losses and budget cutbacks increased internal tensions. Ally formally retired from Ally & Gargano on Jan. 1, 1985 and in June 1986, Marketing Corporation of America (MCA) bought Ally & Gargano for $26.6 million. After further account losses including the showcase Saab account, in December 1988, MCA sold control and 50 percent of the agency to Wesray Capital Corporation
Wesray Capital Corporation
Wesray Capital Corporation was an early private equity firm focussing on leveraged buyout investments. The firm was founded by former US Secretary of the Treasury William E...
for $30 million.
Carl Ally was inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame
American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame
The Advertising Hall of Fame is a list of notable advertising leaders in America as chosen by the American Advertising Federation.It was founded in 1948 as a result of a proposal by the New York Ad Club and its president, Andrew Haire, to the Advertising Federation of America, the predecessor...
in 1991. Gargano left A&G that year when his contract expired, and the agency closed soon after.