A seasoned writer, producer and strategic communications consultant, Mitch Baranowski co-founded BBMG with longtime friend Raphael Bemporad to help clients reach and inspire the conscious consumer.
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As Chief Creative Officer, he has overall responsibility for the brand innovation firm’s creative direction at its New York and San Francisco studios.
Mitch has helped dozens of start-ups develop brands, spearheaded multinational consumer campaigns, directed viral marketing programs, and advised numerous Fortune 500 companies on how best to package their CSR initiatives. His experience spans many industries, including aerospace, arts/entertainment, engineering, environmental, financial services, healthcare, and technology.
“In today’s increasingly cluttered and hyper-connected marketplace, it’s important to recognize that companies no longer own their brands. They are co-owned by the consumer,” he says. “The best brands will stay true to their values but invite consumers to participate in new and unprecedented ways.”
Recently Mitch has led concepts, campaigns and brand strategies for Walmart, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Brown-Forman, Clif Bar & Co., Melinda Gates Foundation and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Prior to launching BBMG, Mitch served as managing director of public affairs for Burson-Marsteller, where his clients included Orbitz and American Airlines. He also served as vice president of corporate affairs in the New York office of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, where his clients included Bombardier Aerospace, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and Juno Online Services.
Earlier in his career, Mitch was a director of corporate communications for AMR Corp./American Airlines, where he managed a broad range of strategic activities, including internal communications, marketing public relations and crisis communications.
Fluent in French, Mitch has worked on assignments in more than a dozen countries. He got his start in communications working as a stringer for Texas State Radio Network and as a reporter for KUT-FM, Austin’s National Public Radio affiliate. He received his MA in Radio-TV-Film and Bachelor of Journalism with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently sits on the board of Texas Folklife.
What’s this about branding your elementary school?
As I entered fifth grade, I transferred to McCoy Elementary in Carrollton, Texas. It was a new school, without a logo. My artwork won the contest for branding the McCoy Cowboys. The design was a total cop of Yosemite Sam, but it made a good T-shirt!
How did comic books influence your creativity?
As an only child I read a lot, including a lot of comics. I was a Marvel fan. Comics teach you about flow, about measuring a story and about being economic with words and dramatic with visuals. They are fantastic storyboards.
What’s it like working with your best friend?
Raphael and I go waaaay back. In college, in those empty pocket days, we’d split beans and rice for dinner or go to a music club and hang outside on the curb because we couldn’t—or wouldn’t—pay the $5 cover charge. We’re still great pals, but we need more time to hang out!
What’s your biggest challenge at BBMG?
It’s probably what I call “getting to yes,” especially when you’re dealing with creative work. We work hard to prove our ideas are worth taking a measured risk. That’s easier now that we have The Collective, a community of consumers wired into our process. Their input is invaluable.
What are you proudest of?
I’m very proud of what this agency has been able to accomplish given its short history, small team and modest client budgets. The team is incredibly smart, incredibly passionate and working on incredibly important business. Each day I am humbled and grateful.
Fess up. You really bug out on the dance floor.
I grew up two-stepping in Texas and later learned to Lindy Hop from the legendary Frankie Manning, who literally invented jitterbugging in Harlem. So when the Swingers crew sparked a revival, I was already on the dance floor.
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