steve conner
CEO and Brand builder in the United States
Steve is noted for producing global, viral success stories with his branding and entertainment technique. He is also an Emmy nominated writer/film director/DP, an award-winning product designer, and a software developer.
Steve pioneered his way of working at his branding/ production company in NYC - STEVE/STORM FILMS. The most notable success story was the global phenomenon - Budweiser Whassup.
Whassup started as a company-wide exercise that produced a short film from the strategic insight - guys don't have to say anything to say everything! The short film went viral via social media. Steve then licensed the project to Budweiser and its advertising agency DDB Needham.
The result was the famed Budweiser Whassup campaign.
Steve has applied his thinking, production and, development skills to help major brands achieve marketing and entertainment success.
Steve and his teams have worked with Verizon, McDonald's, Toyota, P&G, Bally Total Fitness, New York Health and Racquet Club, L’Oreal, JP Morgan Chase and also developed content for HBO, Nickelodeon, and Time Warner to name a few.
On the production side of the company – STORM Films - produced work for ad agencies such as DDB NEEDHAM, HAL RINEY, LEO BURNETT, DRAFT FCB, BURRELL, PUBLICIS, GSD&M, and UNIWORLD. STORM Films went on to win multiple awards including the Cannes Golden Lion for Whassup spots.
Steve was tapped, by retiring 30-year ad industry veteran Tom Burrell, to take over as Chief Creative Officer and Managing Partner. While at Burrell, Steve became close counsel to Chief Marketing Officers at Fortune 500 companies such as Verizon and McDonaldʼs, helping them achieve their corporate vision. With Conner’s guidance, Burrell swept the Mosaic Awards and became Ad Age’s Multicultural Agency of the Year. In addition, the agency’s client, Verizon, went on to win Ad Age’s Marketer of the Year.
After Burrell, Steve went to DRAFT FCB as an EVP, Group Creative Director, and was charged with developing a transmedia program and directing portions of the Kraft Foods account.
To truly capitalize on the transmedia space, Steve launched Fluid, a boutique transmedia content firm. Current Fluid projects include Elle Macpherson, Revlon, Character skateboards, the North Shore city of Waukegan, Columbia College, and a series of in-house projects - most notably a Fluid App that connects young creators with global brands.