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SAN FRANCISCO, USA // As CEO and part owner of Heat, John Elder has led the creative agency to be recognized as one of the most innovative and surprising agencies in the US. Along with his partner Steve Stone, Elder announced in 2016 that Heat would be acquired by Deloitte Digital to create the industry’s first, creative digital consultancy.

Together, they have grown Heat from its initial team of nine to currently more than 200 employees across 4 offices. Over its fifteen-year history, the agency has worked with high profile and well-known brands including: Electronic Arts, PepsiCo, Campari, The NFL Network, BNP Paribas/Bank of the West, Esurance, LG Signature Kitchen Suite, Yahoo!, Levi’s, Hotwire, and the Jackson-Family Wines.

As a full service creative agency, Heat has garnered industry accolades for its surprising creative approach. The Effie Index lists Heat the most effective independent agency in North America and YouTube named the agency on their list of Top Creative Agencies. In 2015, Heat won eight Cannes Lions for their work on EA Sports’ Madden NFL 15 campaign in the Branded Entertainment, Creative Data, Cyber, and Mobile categories. In 2016, they won their ninth Cannes Lion in creative effectiveness for the same campaign.

Since then, Heat has amassed over 100 awards, including winning a Bronze and Silver at Clio Entertainment in 2019.

Prior to Heat, Elder was Associate Partner and Group Director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, where he also founded the agency’s Interactive Group.

Throughout his advertising career, he’s brought his business acumen to household- name brands, including Porsche, Polaroid, eBay, Discover Card, AT&T Wireless and E*TRADE winning Effie Awards and Kelly Awards for his work.

Elder is a graduate of Boston College with degrees in economics and psychology, which turned out to be a fortuitous combination for a career in advertising.