Kristen Cavallo (Photo courtesy Branch Museum of Design)
In a surprise move, former Martin Agency CEO Kristen Cavallo is taking back her title.
Cavallo will return to the Richmond-based agency to retake the top seat, which she previously held for six years before exiting the company in 2024.
She’ll succeed current CEO Danny Robinson, who will be retiring to attend an artist residency in France, Cavallo said. Robinson has spent two decades at Martin, including the last two years as CEO.
After leaving Martin, Cavallo was named executive director of the Branch Museum of Design in early 2025. While at the Branch, Cavallo led the museum’s rebrand late last year and its exhibition of the work of fashion designer Christian Siriano, which she called “the most successful exhibition in our history.”
Cavallo spent a combined 20 years at Martin, first in various roles from 1998 to 2011, before she returned to the company in the CEO role in 2017. She also previously worked at sister agency MullenLowe, which she also led for 18 months as a dual CEO while helming Martin.
She said in an email to Branch newsletter subscribers today that she was asked to return to the agency, and that she believes the move will bring “national attention to what we are building at here” at Martin, which added an asterisk to its name in a recent brand update.
“MARTIN* asked me to step back in during this pivotal moment. There was really only one answer, as I spent 20 of my 30 years in advertising there across two chapters of my career. This will be my third,” Cavallo said in the email.
She added that she will remain with the Branch as an artistic director, while Branch Deputy Director Katie Foster will become the museum’s acting executive director.
“This is not my departure from The Branch. I am shifting my role to Artistic Director, focused on curatorial direction and the creative partnerships ahead,” Cavallo said. “(Foster) has been the operational backbone of this museum and is trusted by the staff and board.”
A release from Martin stated that Cavallo’s focus at the agency will be “ensuring continuity for clients and employees while reinforcing the creative standard that defines the agency.”
This is a developing story. Look for more coverage in tomorrow’s BizSense.
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