Erich and Kallman Appoints Stephen Larkin as Chief Marketing Officer

Erich and Kallman, the independent, award-winning agency co-founded by Steven Erich and Eric Kallman, and known for crafting campaigns that are both fun and unforgettable, has appointed Stephen Larkin as its first chief marketing officer. The news arrives on the heels of the agency’s recent announcement of its new Austin-based office and its win as agency of record for Gulf States Toyota.

Stephen, a well-known and highly respected industry leader, joins Erich and Kallman following his most recent position at R/GA, where he served for the last seven years as senior vice president, executive director of growth and partnerships for the US. In his new role, his responsibilities include leading the effort to increase Erich and Kallman’s visibility within the marketing industry, overseeing all PR efforts and driving new client growth. 

“I’ve known Stephen for over a decade and watched as he’s changed the direction of many agencies through his intelligence, tenacity and team spirit,” says Steven Erich, co-founder and president, Erich and Kallman. “We’re excited for him to amplify the agency’s visibility across our industry while bolstering our client growth. His hiring will allow Eric and I to keep doing what we do best, which is focusing on our existing client relationships and growing their brands.” 

Prior to R/GA, Stephen was chief marketing officer at both David&Goliath, a leading independent agency, and 180LA, part of the Omnicom Group, where he helped add Pepsi and HP to its roster; won AOR for the University of Phoenix, Miller Lite and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and secured project work with Mattel and Pacific Life, among others. At 180LA, he led UNICEF’s UnFairy Tales campaign, which won five Lions at Cannes, including the Grand Prix for Good. 

“Having known Steven and Eric for years, I’m a long time fan of their ingenuity,” said Stephen. “Their work carries such unique and distinct originality and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to increase their visibility, represent them across the industry and help grow their already-impressive client roster - particularly during an inflection point that sees that roster growing, along with their personnel and geographic footprint.”

Earlier in his career, Stephen worked for Hill Holliday in Boston and spent a decade at Mullen as the managing director of their Pittsburgh office. 

Stephen holds a BA in English from Stonehill College and is based in Los Angeles. He will report directly to Steven Erich and Eric Kallman.