Leadership
Tom Hamling
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Tom loves advertising because he knows the world does not. It’s his goal to change that. He founded THE MAYOR to be a place where passionate people can make ideas that make culture. He believes in positivity and process. That’s why the agency is run like a Writer’s Room – a place where everyone (clients included) can sit together to make the work better. Over the years, this process has served him well, as he’s helped transform brands at agencies like GSD&M, RPA, 180LA, WongDoody and Lowe NY. It’s his job to make your brand rich and famous and that’s what he sets out to do every single day.
Megan Brittain
Director of Account Management
Megan is responsible for client relationships and for continuing to build business operations at THE MAYOR. Here from the beginning, she partners with the Strategy, Creative and Production departments to ensure that the best work gets made in the best way possible. Before THE MAYOR, she spent 15 years in Austin, New York and Nashville at GSD&M, Ogilvy and GS&F helping lead brands like Popeyes, IKEA and Marshalls. Her approach to account management is to create a candid space where everyone can speak honestly and directly in pursuit of the best work. She is a tiny human fueled by coffee, tacos and her fellow tiny humans at home.
Elizabeth Thompson
Director of Strategy
Elizabeth’s role at THE MAYOR is to relentlessly unlock a truth that puts unforgettable work into culture. She, in essence, is how we make sure our creative is truly ‘for the people.’ She has a long history of doing exactly this as Elizabeth has developed Effie and Cannes-winning brand strategies for agencies like Mullen, R/GA and GSD&M. By being genuinely curious about people, culture and business problems, she has helped brands like BMW, Pizza Hut, the Air Force and Michaels create customer experiences they will never forget. Elizabeth lives in Austin and exploits “The Live Music Capital of the World” every chance she gets.
Jack Epsteen
Director of Production
As the head of production, Jack works hand-in-hand with creatives and clients to find the best way to bring amazing ideas to life. “No” is never his first answer. He’s spent his entire career producing and leading production on everything from Super Bowl commercials to scrappy social shoots. Whether broadcast or digital, there is no job too big or too small. The list of clients he has led include: Lexus, Pizza Hut, Capital One, Southwest Airlines and Avocados From Mexico. Beyond keeping up with the constantly evolving world of production, Jack is a live-music connoisseur—attending almost 100 concerts per year.
Leigh Browne
Creative Director
(Written by her partner Jon) Leigh spends her days, nights and occasional weekend helping every brand at THE MAYOR sound amazing. After a career that started in journalism in some desert town that I can’t remember, Leigh decided to turn her skills to advertising and the world is lucky she did. Her work for brands like Popeyes, Capital One, ProChoice Majority and Avocados from Mexico has won every award imaginable. In 2019, she was named to Adweek Magazine’s “Creative 100” honoring the biggest stars in the industry. When she’s not making great words and stuff, you can usually find her on the Amalfi Coast. Or in Spain. Maybe Scandinavia. No matter the location, she usually ignores my texts and emails. Rude.
Jon Williamson
Creative Director
(Written by his partner Leigh) Every minute Jon isn’t thinking about some insignificant sports thing, he’s working to make every brand at THE MAYOR look incredible. He started his career as a theater set designer and brings that attention and craft to every idea we bring to life. His work for brands like Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Capital One and Avocados from Mexico has won every shiny trophy in the book. In 2019, he was recognized as one of advertising’s best and brightest stars in Adweek Magazine’s “Creative 100.” When Jon isn’t obsessing over dumb things like first downs and “making points,” he’s happiest perfecting his biscuit recipe, savoring a glass of bourbon with an old book (paper only, please) or rewatching The Bear.