Minneapolis-based ad man Pat Fallon, whose upstart firm once led campaigns for luxury automakers BMW and Porsche, has died at age 70, his company said.
Fallon, a member of the Advertising Hall of Fame, died Friday with his family at his side, according to the Fallon agency he co-founded. Fallon died at a hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, company spokeswoman Julie McBride said.
“We are devastated by the loss of our iconic leader. He was our inspiration, our fire in the belly, our eternal conscience and the head of our Fallon family,” Fallon’s CEO Mike Buchner said in a statement. “We will miss him dearly, but are fully committed to living up to the legacy of greatness that he established at the place that bears his name.”
Originally called Fallon McElligott Rice, the Minneapolis agency was founded during the 1981 recession by Fallon, Tom McElligott and Nancy Rice. In 1996 and 2001, Fallon was named SHOOT’s Agency of the Year. In 2001, the Fallon shop turned out breakthrough work on various fronts. The agency rolled out the seminal series of BMW short films online. Fallon also that year had two PBS spots nominated for the primetime commercial Emmy–”Photo Booth” and “Light,” both directed by documentary filmmaker Errol Morris who at the time was with @radical.media. (The director is now at Moxie Pictures.) “Photo Booth” went on to win the Emmy in 2001, which was also the year Fallon created moving work for United Airlines after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. SHOOT additionally cited Fallon that year for its continuing strong work for Lee Jeans, Holiday Inn and Citibank, among others.
The agency made a name for itself in the automotive industry, the Star Tribune reported. Current clients include Arby’s, H&R Block, Loctite, Old El Paso, Starz, Under Armour and VH1.
Fallon retired as CEO in 2008 but remained as the company’s chairman emeritus. On the agency’s website, Fallon speaks of his company’s commitment to “the responsibilities of thought leadership and social activism.”
