After merging with Partners & Jeary, Laughlin/Constable will have Steve Laughlin, left, as partner and Michael Jeary as president of the New York office.

Today the partners and jeary agency is merging with Laughlin Constable to become Laughlin Constable NY. I thought you might like to know why.

About 11 years ago, Steve Laughlin and I met at an annual meeting of the 4A’s. Over the years a strong friendship emerged based on mutual respect, a shared value system and common approach to the business.

Unlike Steve, however, I was a late-blooming entrepreneur having traded in my CEO stripes at Saatchi & Saatchi for an agency with my name on the door only a short time earlier.

Laughlin became my mentor and ideal. That’s why when we first discussed the idea of merging our firms last year and working together to leverage the considerable resources of Laughlin Constable for all our clients’ benefit, it seemed to me to be a natural progression in our business relationship.

Our merger expands the geographic footprint of the Laughlin Constable brand in a cost-effective manner and adds talent and revenue to its strong employee base. It also brings to our business here in NY, additional Laughlin Constable “Full Circle” branding capabilities (interactive, PR, promotion and planning) so necessary in meeting the needs of our clients and new business prospects today.

A long time ago I learned two key lessons in business 1) we succeed when our clients succeed so we better anticipate their needs and 2) change fuels everything, so we better embrace it. Today, I‘m glad I stayed awake during that class.

Click here to read The New York Times article covering the merger.