Venables Bell + Partners Team Members

If Paul were talking with you right now, he would surely point out that the agency’s big, sweeping, trademark-able philosophy has nothing to do with buzz generation, media agnosticism or content creation, but is simply “our intentions are good.” Those good intentions – doing right by our people and our clients – have helped Paul and his partners attract about 200 of the nicest, most talented people you'll find in advertising as well as big-time clients like Audi, Reebok, Chipotle, and 3M. This philosophy, along with his steadfast commitment to independence, helped Paul earn the Hal Riney Icons of Marketing award for his career accomplishments and significant influence on the industry, and he was named one of the “100 People That Make Advertising Great” by the 4As.

Prior to opening VB+P in 2001, Paul was Co-Creative Director, Associate Partner and heir-apparent of Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. By the end of his six-plus years there he was running over $400 million in business and had won various and sundry industry awards for clients like Pacific Bell, Discover Card, Porsche, Nike and Netflix. Venables was also an Associate Creative Director at Korey, Kay & Partners, a copywriter at McCaffrey and McCall and a telephone receptionist at a small New York agency. He had attempted to start his career as a telephone receptionist at a large New York agency, but failed their typing tests. 

A sixteen-year veteran of VB+P, Kate has played a pivotal role in the agency’s success. As Partner and President, Kate has led the agency to significant growth via a diversification of its offering, including discreet capabilities in experience design, integrated production, retail, and issue/advocacy marketing. Kate has also been instrumental in the agency’s partnership and recent launch of new brand AI firm, B R A I V E. Kate’s day-to-day responsibilities include running the agency’s departments and divisions, as well as collaborating with fellow leaders to ensure inspired people, clients, and creative work.

Prior to VB+P, Kate spent time at Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles and Paris, TBWA Chiat/Day and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, working across categories on significant brands and initiatives, including launching both the Apple iPod and Toyota Prius.

She nearly missed her calling in advertising, heading to UCLA Law School after college. She soon realized that ad people were more fun. Kate lives in Marin with her husband, two kids, dog, cat and about 13,000 honey bees. 

Will McGinness joined VB+P in 2010 as Paul Venables’ partner and now runs the creative department. Will has played a pivotal role in the agency’s success, helping VB+P attract brands like Intel, Google, Reebok and SKYY Vodka to its roster. Under Will and Paul’s creative leadership, the agency has architected well-known brand platforms like Reebok “Be More Human,” Intel's “Look Inside,” showcasing amazing people making the impossible, possible; transitioned eBay from an auction site to a mobile shopping destination with eBay’s “When it’s on your mind, it’s on eBay;" launched Google Fiber, one of the most talked about initiatives in Google’s history; and led Audi to record sales.

Prior to VB+P, Will spent seven years at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, where he was Creative Director, Associate Partner, working across all media as an interdisciplinary creative. Will was a force in the agency’s rapid reinvention from a traditional model to a more integrated one. During that time, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners earned the title of "Interactive Agency of the Year" at the Cannes Festival, as well as both Adweek and Creativity magazine's “Agency of the Year” and Ad Age’s “Digital Agency of the Year.”

Will’s work has been recognized at every major award show, including the highly coveted D&AD Black Pencil for the “Got Milk” campaign, and he has served as Chairman of the Interactive One Show, Executive Chairman of the CLIO Interactive Jury and Interactive Chair for the Art Director’s Club awards. Despite these accolades, his wife remains unimpressed.