What is the advertising agency hierarchy?

The advertising agency hierarchy consists of several different teams with management or executives at the top of the hierarchy, followed by many other crucial departments that contribute to the success of an ad agency. Here is a closer look at the different teams and departments of an ad agency, starting with management at the top of the hierarchy:

• Management

At the very top of an ad agency you will often find a chief executive officer (CEO), vice president, and other chief executives. The CEO is the head person in charge of outlining objectives and goals for the company and then directing officials below them to carry out strategies to achieve these objectives and goals.

• Account services

The account services department of an ad agency is one that handles all communications with clients. This department usually consists of account executives and directors that are often in charge of individual advertising client's accounts. They are usually tasked with meeting with clients and prospective clients and working out contracts and schedules.

• Research and marketing

The research and marketing department of an ad agency is a crucial contributor because it collects critical information and data that can then be used to create effective ad campaigns. Research and marketing departments look into different key data points concerning demographics, social and market trends, and other relevant data concerning target groups.

• Finance

The finance department of an ad agency is composed of financial professionals that keep track of items like budgets for ad campaigns. It usually stays in close contact with the management and account services department to make sure the ad agency is financially secure. This team might also handle employee salaries, internal budgets, and expenses.

• Media

The media department is one that seeks to secure public spaces where advertising campaigns can be deployed. This includes public spaces like:

• TV

• Online (digital ad campaigns)

• Radio

• Billboards

• Newspapers

This department is usually in charge of selecting which channels are most appropriate for each ad campaign. It often seeks data from the research and marketing department to find out which public spaces are the most effective for different key demographics.

• Creative

The creative department of the ad agency has all of the professionals that generate ideas and contribute to the creation of ads and ad campaigns. This department is usually fairly large because it can have a lot of different creative professionals, such as:

Depending on the client's particular needs; one, several, or even in some cases, all of these professionals, will collaborate on advertisements or ad campaigns.

• Production

The production department is the one that takes the designs, text, photos, digital art, or video from the creative department and finishes the product. They stay in close contact with the creators and clients to make sure that the goals of the ads are attainable and that they can be delivered on budget and on time. The production team's tasks can vary depending on the project.