Jeff Cruz

Jeff Cruz has a diverse work experience spanning over several years. Jeff began their career as a Copywriter at The Producers, Inc. in 1996, then moved on to work as a Senior Copywriter at McMurtry Ad Group from 1997 to 1998. Jeff gained experience as a Senior Copywriter and Freelance Writer at SLAM from 1994 to 2000.

In 2000, Jeff joined Leo Burnett Detroit as an SVP, Group Creative Director, where they played a pivotal role in leading their pro bono efforts for Detroit Public Schools, resulting in significant funding for the district.

Jeff later joined VSA Partners in 2010 as an Executive Creative Director, Associate Partner, where they focused on consumer-facing advertising for clients, particularly Harley-Davidson. During their time there, they secured several high-profile clients and helped the agency win a Gold Effie for H-D's youth marketing work.

Jeff then served as a Executive Board Member at Planet Reimagined, a start-up social impact venture, focused on addressing the climate crisis, inequality, and human rights. Jeff worked on various projects, including academic research, media content production, and corporate partnerships.

Jeff also contributed to the Adcraft Club of Detroit as the D Show Chairman from 2016 to 2017 and Executive Board—Recording Secretary from 2020 to 2021. In these roles, they led the organization in hosting Detroit's annual advertising award show and navigated the transition to virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff'smost recent role has been EVP, Chief Creative Officer at MRM since 2016. In this position, Jeff has focused on elevating the creative product and talent by fostering a culture of collaboration and trust. Jeff has inspired and grown a team that is dedicated to this mission, with the belief that results will follow.

Jeff Cruz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from Arizona State University between the years 1987 and 1992.