Jansen Executive Leaves to Be President of Smaller Ad Agency
A principal of Jansen Associates, one of Orange County’s largest independent advertising agencies, has left to become president of a smaller Orange County ad shop.
Charles W. Roberts, a senior vice president and former president of Santa Ana-based Jansen, announced Monday that he has left the firm in what is apparently a bitter rift within the agency.
With the addition of Roberts, the 36-year-old advertising and public relations firm of Mealer & Emerson becomes Roberts, Mealer & Emerson.
The move ends an uneasy calm at Jansen, which has about 60 employees. In early 1986, a planned merger fell through with the New York-based agency Doyle Dane Bernbach International.
Meanwhile, Roberts and two other Jansen executives--Joe Leindecker and Jack Vincent, both vice presidents--had been negotiating to buy Jansen from founder and chairman Ray St. Onge, according to Roberts.
But when those talks also failed, Leindecker and Vincent left Jansen. Soon after, Roberts was bumped from president to senior vice president, and St. Onge assumed the title of president.
Asked if his departure was on friendly terms, Roberts said, “We’re trying to split amicably.”
Roberts said his resignation was effective Sept. 25.
“Joe and Jack left over stock issues. The deal with Doyle, Dane . . . fell through. Some promises were not kept. I was going to do my own thing and start my own company, and (Mealer & Emerson) gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he said.
Roberts said he’ll be working “with people I respect a lot. I can add some pizazz.”
St. Onge could not be reached late Monday for comment.
Roberts, Mealer & Emerson now has about 11 employees and annual billings of $2 million to $5 million. That contrasts with Jansen Associates’ yearly billings of $20 million to $25 million.
But Roberts plans to change all that. He expects Roberts, Mealer’s billings to double to about $10 million within the next three years as the firm moves from its current “broad-based” work to an increased emphasis on computer and electronics.
Roberts, Mealer’s client roster includes Magnavox, Avon Boats and Cruise ‘N Carry Outboard Motors.
Jansen represents Burlington Northern Air Freight, California Peripherals, and U.S. Divers, among others.
