AME’s Grand Jury is the powerhouse behind the prestigious AME Awards, their high standard of excellence ensures that AME’s 26-year legacy is upheld and respected globally both by winners and industry reports measuring creative distinction.
2020 Grand Jury Peter Bunarek is Managing Director of BBDO Atlanta. He knows what keeps CMOs awake at night, because well, that’s what has kept him awake for the past 20+ years. His career spans both the agency and client sides, across every conceivable vertical from retail, telco, food and beverage, automotive, travel, outdoor recreation, healthcare, and agriculture. Regardless of vertical, Peter knows agencies are at their best when creatively solving complex business problems, fast. He instills in the agency a bias for action, a knack for business and marketing strategy, a passion for data and technology, and a love for creativity. Peter’s leadership of BBDO ATL has resulted in wins at Cannes, Effies, Clios, Addys, Webbys, NY Festivals, One Show, and Communication Arts.
Peter’s also actively involved in Atlanta’s creative, business and non-profit community. He serves as a Board Director for the 4As Atlanta Council, as a Board Advisor for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and as a Board Director for Street Grace, a faith-based non-profit that exists to end domestic minor sex trafficking.
AME Awards: Why are effectiveness competitions like the AME Awards important?
Peter Bunarek: Our work must sell stuff. As an industry we must recognize and reward the best work that performs commercially. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter. I’m not talking about soft performance like awareness, clicks, time spent, shares, likes, etc. But meaningful and measurable customer actions that drive commercial outcomes for clients. I don’t know of one CMO that is not performance driven. At the end of the day all marketing is performance marketing.
AME Awards: What is your favorite most effective ad and why does it hit the bullseye for the brand?
Peter Bunarek: So many, but I have to pick a BBDO ad! Snickers “Betty White.” Brilliant insight that transcends culture “you’re not yourself when hungry”, flawlessly executed, wildly effective in selling Snickers, re-affirmed Betty White as pop culture icon.
AME Awards: What campaign or campaigns are you most proud of and how did it move the needle for the brand?
Peter Bunarek: I love the work we did for HoneyBaked Ham. A 60-year-old iconic American company that had to attract a younger audience and generate more than 1-2 use occasions per year. Classic brand reinvention brief. Our modern interpretation of the brand, with great cultural insight into our DIY and Instagrammable lives, delivered vibrantly through video, social and activations, propelled HoneyBaked to record sales, winning the only Effie for the Retail category in North America last year. What retail apocalypse?!
AME Awards: What cultural and/or social changes do you think will influence this year’s work?
Peter Bunarek: I’d love to say brands that are standing up to the economic bullying, censorship and muzzling of dissent in China and Hong Kong, but I doubt we’ll see that. Unfortunately, I think we’ll see more politically charged work in the US because it’s an election year.
AME Awards: What do you do keep your creative and strategic juices flowing?
Peter Bunarek: Walking meditation 20 to 30 mins a day. Practicing gratitude daily. And since I spend a good amount of time in Atlanta traffic, I fill the void with podcasts from innovators and entrepreneurs in business, science, and technology. I love to learn how others are creating real value by solving problems and serving human needs.