Richard’s career spans over 25 years and boasts experience both in advertising and marketing communications. He has worked with clients and brands in a wide range of categories, including Automotive, Banking, Consumer Goods, Health, Insurance, Liquor, Entertainment, Pharmaceutical, Telecommunications. His experience extends beyond Puerto Rico to include other markets, such as the US Hispanic market and the Caribbean. After receiving both a BA and an MBA from the University of Hartford in Connecticut, Richard began his professional career in New York, working for The Bravo Group (Y&R’s Hispanic agency) in charge of the AT&T Business Services account. Several years later, he returned to Puerto Rico to work for Marti, Flores, Prieto & Wachtel (today known as Wunderman Thompson) working on accounts such as Ford, Goya, Cellular One and Kodak. He later joined FCB where he managed the Mazda, Nestle, SC Johnson Wax and Glaxo Wellcome (known today as GSK) accounts. At FCB, he was also in charge of the strategic planning for all agency clients. He was then offered the opportunity to become the Marketing Communications Manager for Celulares Telefónica (known today as Claro) where he was responsible for all external and internal communications for the company's wireless products. After some time, he returned to the agency world to work with EJE Sociedad Publicitaria (known today as DDB Latina) on the Oriental Group, Sprint, ICI Paints, Royal & SunAlliance Insurance, and Suzuki accounts. In 2003, he joined JWT Puerto Rico (known today as Wunderman Thompson) as VP Account Group Director, where he managed several account teams throughout the years. Some of these accounts include: Centennial Wireless, Kraft Foods, Triple-S Health Insurance, Merck, DIRECTV, Bacardi, Pfizer Caribbean, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, Walgreens and Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago. During this time, Richard has also been an active member of the Puerto Rico advertising community and served on the Puerto Rico Advertising Agency Association Board for two years. In January 2020, Richard was appointed VP General Manager of Grey Puerto Rico. Cooking is his newfound passion, which he manages to indulge in when he’s not out walking his two rescue dogs.
20 years of experience in the industry in some of the main agencies of Puerto Rico. Among them - Badillo, Y&R, McCann Erickson, and JWT as Associate Creative Director. And now Grey, where a new challenge awaits as Creative Director. Had the opportunity to oversee leading brands such as Banco Popular, AT&T, DIRECTV, Nestlé and Jack Daniel’s. Bronze Cannes Lion winner and finalist. Also, winner and finalist in the following festivals - New York Festival, El Sol International Festival, El Ojo de Iberoamérica and Cúspide awards.
Mariana Gallardo graduated from the University of the Sacred Heart with a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She then continued her studies in Boston University, where she received an MS in Advertising. After graduating, she went back to Puerto Rico where she began working for BBDO as an Account Executive. She then continued her career at Y&R and Buena Vibra Group, where she worked on brands such as T-Mobile, DIRECTV, Hershey's, Mazola, Acuvue and MillerCoors. After a few years in Puerto Rico, she made the jump to the U.S. and joined LatinWorks, now ThirdEar, as a Digital Manager on accounts like the Texas Lottery, Visit Austin, POST, Beech-Nut, Starbucks LatAm, Target, Domino's, MLB and Jack Daniel's. She has been a key player in the success of many digital campaigns along her career, and believes that if you love what you do and you work hard, success will follow. Mariana is a fan of great books, yoga and traveling far and wide. When she's not at her laptop, you'll find her at the nearest park with her rescue dog, Chencho.