Advertising is about relationships – between agency and client, client and consumer, and consumer and influencer. At the intersection of those relationships is Tom Donoghue, who brings nearly 25 years of experience in strategic planning, partnership marketing and community engagement to his new post as Wray Ward Account Lead.

“Tom has great strategic planning and critical thinking skills, and he understands the valuable role relationships play in building brands, from marketing alliances to corporate social responsibility partnerships,” Wray Ward Vice President, Director of Client Engagement Rob Horton said. “He also understands the complex relationship between agencies and their clients; having worked at advertising agencies as well as on the corporate side, Tom is a great fit for our client model which centers on commitment to collaboration and better performing work for our clients. We’re excited to have him on board.”

Donoghue, who has 17 years of corporate marketing experience and six years of agency experience, has a portfolio that includes developing multi-year partnerships to form consumer-focused platforms through internationally recognized events and brands including the Nokia Sugar Bowl, NCAA, Disney and The GRAMMYs.

He spent the last 12 years with Lowe’s Companies, working as a divisional marketing manager before moving into a community relations role. As divisional marketing manager, he managed strategic planning, partnership development and advertising, including managing internal teams and advertising, media and multi-cultural agency partners. As community relations manager, he directed corporate outreach programs, community partnerships and the Lowe’s Foundation.

Prior to Lowe’s, Donoghue held various marketing roles at Nokia and Dr Pepper Snapple Group where he directed sports and event partnerships, and national consumer promotions. Donoghue’s career sprouted from his beginnings in Dallas where he worked at agencies Young & Rubicam, Berry Brown and DDB Needham/TracyLocke managing consumer goods businesses including Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Lincoln Mercury and Blockbuster Entertainment. A Boston native, Donoghue is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

As Account Lead for Wray Ward, Donoghue will direct communications strategies and use his consumer marketing skill set and experience working both client and agency side to translate marketing objectives into successful marketing and advertising strategies that will deliver on program goals.

“Looking through a strategic lens, I’ve helped recognize partner objectives, translate them into strategic communications plans, and maintained program focus to ensure all partners were working toward the same goal,” Donoghue said. “I’m a problem solver, and joining a creative environment as great as Wray Ward’s lets me flex that muscle some more.”

Donoghue will also help lead Wray Ward’s community involvement initiatives.

“We are thrilled to have a strategic thinker like Tom on the team,” said Jennifer Appleby, president and chief creative officer of Wray Ward, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. “Wray Ward has a long history of commitment to community, and Tom’s knack for cultivating meaningful relationships and his philanthropic experience align well with our own continued emphasis on giving back to our local and creative communities.”

Donoghue’s passion for community involvement extends outside of his work. He is on the board of directors for the Lake Norman YMCA, and he serves as chairman for the organization’s Annual Campaign Committee. The father of three sons – ages 9, 12 and 15 – Donoghue also volunteers for various school functions and athletic programs.