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Andrew Essex

Founder & CEO

GoingConcern

New York, NY, USA

Andrew Essex

Ertman Dulis & Helisek PLLC

Andrew Essex’s Biography

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Andrew Essex is the Founder & CEO of GoingConcern, a consultancy that advises C-suite clients on matters pertaining to relevance, revenue, relationships and reputation. He is the former CEO of Tribeca Enterprises, the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival, and founding CEO of Droga5, a world-renowned creative agency, which was acquired for a record multiple by William Morris Endeavor in 2013 and sold again to Accenture in 2019.

A highly creative strategic executive with 30+ years in marketing, media, technology, events, content, business development, hospitality and M&A, Andrew is a proven entrepreneurial leader and culture builder with multiple exits, high-profile turnaround experience and world-class relationships, skilled in recruiting, retaining and managing talent and overseeing complex P&Ls, and a rainmaker with an extensive track record of generating high-margin revenue, crafting compelling narratives and operating complex enterprises in competitive markets.

Andrew is a frequent public speaker on media, marketing and monetization strategies and sits on the boards... Andrew Essex is the Founder & CEO of GoingConcern, a consultancy that advises C-suite clients on matters pertaining to relevance, revenue, relationships and reputation. He is the former CEO of Tribeca Enterprises, the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival, and founding CEO of Droga5, a world-renowned creative agency, which was acquired for a record multiple by William Morris Endeavor in 2013 and sold again to Accenture in 2019.

A highly creative strategic executive with 30+ years in marketing, media, technology, events, content, business development, hospitality and M&A, Andrew is a proven entrepreneurial leader and culture builder with multiple exits, high-profile turnaround experience and world-class relationships, skilled in recruiting, retaining and managing talent and overseeing complex P&Ls, and a rainmaker with an extensive track record of generating high-margin revenue, crafting compelling narratives and operating complex enterprises in competitive markets.

Andrew is a frequent public speaker on media, marketing and monetization strategies and sits on the boards of The AdCouncil, iPic Entertainment and Plus Pool. He is the Chair of the NYC Mayor’s Creative Council, and a former advisor to the White House American Office of Innovation and the Wharton SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management. He serves as an angel investor and advisor to top disruptive companies and prominent unicorns.

He is also an award-winning journalist and cultural editor at such publications as The New Yorker, Details and Salon.com, among others, and has been a television commentator for ABC, CNN and CNBC. He is author of “The End of Advertising: Why It Had to Die and the Creative Resurrection to Come” and co-author of three books: "A Very Public Offering: The Story of the Globe.com,” “Chasing Cool,” with former Barney’s CEO Gene Pressman, and “Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco and Destiny,” with producer and musician Nile Rodgers. moreless

Andrew Essex’s Newsfeed

The New York Times

And Now, a Word From Your Streaming Sponsor …

Commenting on the new embrace of advertising by streaming services, Andrew Essex says this is "basically game on” as companies are looking for more revenue and additional forms of monetization.

Student Leadership Network

Student Leadership Network Welcomes Newest Board Members

Andrew Essex has been appointed to join Student Leadership Network's Board of Directors.

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Andrew Essex’s Background

GoingConcern

Founder & CEO

2021 - Present

New York, NY, USA

GoingConcern is a consultancy that advises C-suite clients on matters pertaining to relevance, revenue, relationships and reputation. The firm helps executives streamline important business functions and improve relationships across complex enterprises.

Tribeca Enterprises

CEO

Jan 2016 - Dec 2017

New York, NY, USA

Tribeca Enterprises is a global media company engaging in the entertainment industry and based in New York City.

Droga5

Founding Chief Executive Officer

2006 - Jul 2015

New York, NY, USA

Droga5 is a creative agency focused on advertising, communications and branding. The firm is now a subsidiary of Accenture Interactive.

Absolute

Editor-in-Chief

2004 - 2005

London, UK

Absolute Magazine is a luxury magazine with fashion and lifestyle as its focus, with lifestyle features, lively editorials and groundbreaking imagery.

Details

Executive Editor

2000 - 2004

New York, NY, USA

Details was a men's magazine published by Condé Nast and featuring fashion, current affairs and lifestyle articles.

The New Yorker

Editor

Jan 1994 - Jan 1998

New York, NY, USA

The New Yorker is a weekly magazine published in the US with a unique blend of journalism and reporting on current affairs.

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Andrew Essex’s Gallery

Andrew Essex speaks on stage during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival Awards Night on April 22, 2016 in New York City

Andrew Essex attends the book launch party for The End of Advertising at Greenwich Hotel on June 7, 2017 in New York City.

John Slattery attend the book launch party for Andrew Essex's The End of Advertising at Greenwich Hotel on June 7, 2017 in New York City.

andrew essex at a charity event

Andrew Essex and Niles Rodgers

Hayley Romer, Luke Atkinson,ÊKevin Burke, Andrew Essex,ÊAlison Lazzaro andÊMatevz Klanjsek attend the Tribeca X Award ceremony at Crosby street hotel on April 24, 2017 in New York City.

Advisory Roles

Glasswing Ventures

Advisor

Oct 2020 - Present

Boston, MA, USA

Glasswing Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in cutting edge technology and AI startups.

Current Board Positions

Student Leadership Network

Board of Directors

Dec 2021 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Student Leadership Network is a nonprofit organization that seeks to support the education and academic growth of young people in disenfranchised communities through prominent programs.

IPIC

Board of Directors

Nov 2018 - Present

Boca Raton, FL, USA

IPIC is a luxury restaurant-and-movie theater brand based in the US.

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Previous Board Positions

Ad Council

Board of Directors

New York, NY, USA

The Advertising Council is a non-profit organization that facilitates collaboration between creative people and businesses to create advertising to inspire action on the main social issues in America.

Venture for America

Board of Directors

New York, NY, USA

Venture for America is a network of and community for aspiring entrepreneurs and start-up leaders.

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Previous Advisory Roles

Wharton SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management

Advisor

Philadelphia, PA, USA

The SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management served as a source of bold ideas and innovative thinking in management development over a period of 3 decades.

The White House

Advisor to the Office of American Innovation

Washington, DC, USA

Andrew was Advisor to the Office of American Innovation contributing to recommendations made to the President aimed at improving the US Government operations and services and improving the quality of life for Americans whilst creating job opportunities.

Media

The Washington Post releases first national brand campaign

Oct 2021

Washington, DC, USA

Andrew Essex, CEO of GoingConcern, worked with The Washington Post to create its first nation brand campaign that is aired on national television to highlight the importance of journalism and The Post's position in the modern world.

Advertisers Look To Capitalize on the Metaverse Hype

Oct 2021

New York, NY, USA

Andrew Essex was featured in an article by Business Insider titled "Advertisers Look To Capitalize on the Metaverse Hype."

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Interviews

Andrew Essex: 'The industry is ripe for reinvention'

Sep 2019

New York, NY, USA

Andrew Essex speaks with AdAge about his vision of the future of the marketing and media industries.

Tell Us 5 Things About Your Book: ‘The End of Advertising’

Jun 2017

New York, NY, USA

Andrew highlights aspects of his book, “The End of Advertising: Why It Had to Die, and the Creative Resurrection to Come” in this interview with John Williams.

Publications

Why Every Product Needs a Great Brand Story

Author

Jun 2020

New York, NY, USA

In this article, Andrew Essex, Founder & CEO of GoingConcern, addresses the oft-asked question that too many people in business ask: Isn't my product the most important thing? He goes on to discuss the importance of a good brand story that grabs people's attention. A series of product attributes, he says, is not the same thing.

The End of Advertising: Why It Had to Die, and the Creative Resurrection to Come

Author

Jun 2017

Andrew's book predicts "an end to advertising as we know it" and suggests that the future of advertising will look very different and require an adjustment from the creative minds that feed the industry.

Chasing Cool: Standing Out in Today's Cluttered Marketplace

Co-Author

Feb 2014

New York, NY, USA

Andrew contributed to this book by Noah Kerner and Gene Pressman in pursuit of 'cool', essentially about creating a brand that can stand the test of time.

Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco and Destiny

Co-Author

Oct 2011

Andrew co-authored this account by musician, Nile Rodgers, of his musical life journey.

A Very Public Offering: The Story of the Globe.com

Co-Author

Aug 2001

Hoboken, NJ, USA

Andrew contributed to Stephen Paternot's tale tracking his early internet start-up success (after founding theglobe.com at the age of 20 with partner Todd Krizelman) and his spectacular fall from grace.

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Memberships

American Advertising Federation

Corporate Board Member

Jan 2013 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

American Advertising Federation (AAF) is an organization of advertising industry professionals across all disciplines and career levels.

Speaking Engagements

Advertising's Responsibility For Online Civility

Featured Speaker

Mar 2021

At the Digitally United: Closing the Gaps in a Techonomic World event presented by Techonomy, Andrew Essex discusses the role of advertising in how social media operates and the responsibility advertisers have in changing the way social media behaves in order to restore online civility.

The SynZenBe Show: Communicating Core Values Insight and Out

Webinar

Jul 2020

Andrew Essex, Founder & CEO of GoingConcern, and Toby Usnik, Founder of Philanthropic Impact Partners, join host Simon Collins to discuss how effective leader can instill and promote a clear vision of a company’s mission and values, from the top of the organization to the bottom.

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Community Engagement

City of New York

Chairman of The Mayor’s Creative Council

May 2019 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Andrew is Chairman of the Creative Council consisting of creative leaders from a host of marketing, advertising and media companies with the view to harness their talent and energy to connect New Yorkers to information, resources and initiatives.

Andrew Essex’s Education

New York University

BA & MA | English