Rebellious

by design

Inventive

in action

Invested

for good

Based in Austin. Independent in more than just spirit. We have been liberating brands for over a decade and are passionate, smart, efficient, and ever curious about finding ways to create value for the clients and brands we work with. Maybe that's why AdAge has honored us 5 times in their Agency of the Year awards. We make things happen for our clients and for our people. We give them space for real connections in a virtual workspace, days off for inspiration and volunteering, and the opportunity to do their best work from anywhere.

What is Brand Liberation?

Every brand needs to be liberated from something.
From old ideas, old ways of doing things, short term gains versus purpose-led strategies, chasing clicks rather than creating inspired content.

Every brand gets stuck.
But brands want to grow.
Growth requires freedom.
Freedom to move, to make new connections, new relationships.
To inspire. To become truly valuable.

Using insights, data, creativity, imagination and good old hard work, we can help you find the most powerful point of liberation for your brand.

Who We Are

Bryan Christian
Principal/CEO
Jocelyn Friedman
President
Craig Markus
Chief Creative Officer
Claire Jordan
Executive Creative Director
John Kottmann
Chief Strategy Officer
Kim Granberry
Chief Financial Officer
Heather Hager
Director of Media Services
Emily Scruggs
Director of Social Media

Brands we’ve helped liberate

Proof Advertising is a proud member of Worldwide Partners.
Worldwide Partners represents a global network of more than 70 independent and diversified market services agencies in over 40 countries who support the world’s most heralded brands across 90 industry verticals.

Bryan Christian
Principal/CEO

Bryan spent most of his career with McCann-Erickson including running new business for McCann New York. He was a co-founder of Momentum, the world’s first global/experiential ad agency, and had a stint at Publicis. He moved back to Texas to run a small Austin boutique, buying it in 2010 and rebranding as Proof Advertising.

Jocelyn Friedman
President

Jocelyn has been with Kolar Advertising (now Proof Advertising) since 1999. Her restaurant and retail experience comes from running accounts like Sun City Texas, Schlotzsky's, 3M and premium Wal-Mart and Kroger brands. For 17 years, she has run our Subway account with stellar results.

Craig Markus
Chief Creative Officer

Craig got his start as an art director at Ogilvy & Mather and has produced award-winning work for renowned agencies including Deutsch NY and McCann NY. He has been the creative lead for global brands including Coca Cola, Mastercard, Nike and Levi’s, led the launch of Xbox and created and led the Army Strong campaign. Recently, Craig was ECD at Cramer Krasselt NY and the founder of branding studio Rage, Grace & Partners.

Claire Jordan
Executive Creative Director

With roots from GSD&M in Austin to shops big and small in NYC, Claire has built her copywriting career on a wide range of brands including Southwest Airlines, BMW, Delta Airlines, Jaguar Motors, Thomson Reuters, and more. She also co-founded the multi-media brand “Moms I’d Like to Know” and is a published fiction writer.

John Kottmann
Chief Strategy Officer

Over the past two decades, John has led strategy teams at McCann, Ogilvy and DDB. He believes in connecting data with creativity to engage consumers and develop compelling experiences. His planning has helped create iconic work for clients across categories including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Mastercard, Gap, American Express and many more.

Kim Granberry
Chief Financial Officer

Kim started her career in Austin, working across all areas of accounting for several small private companies, first TRI, then Ambion. She made the leap to advertising and spent 16 years at Y&R Austin, moving up the financial ranks and serving as CFO for her final 6 years at the company. She joined Proof Advertising in 2016.

Heather Hager
Director of Media Services

Early in her career, Heather became immersed in the world of closed loop digital media, managing ad awareness down the funnel and direct response that increased bookings for travel brands like Emirates Airline, Barbados Tourism and Harley-Davidson Travel Experience. For over a decade she has helped Proof’s digital heavy clientele, leading on attribution marketing and optimizing ROAS:ROI conversion campaigns.

Emily Scruggs
Director of Social Media

Starting out at Arnold Worldwide in Boston, Emily worked on Progressive Insurance, Carnival Cruises and the Jack Daniels Gentleman Jack line, conducting social research, contributing to content creation and aiding the management of paid social campaigns. Emily joined Proof in 2013 and has provided leadership for social clients across community management, content creation and organic and paid social efforts.

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