Content development and production company Rodeo Show has brought Katie Walker on board as executive producer. Walker has spent years as a producer of award-winning commercials and campaigns for global brands including Stella Artois, AT&T, Samsung, GE, Kellogg’s, ESPN and Starbucks. She brings to Rodeo Show a background in branding and identity as well as a keen eye for storytelling and talent acquisition.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Katie at various postings for more than 20 years,” said Rodeo Show EP Mike Brady. “She is smart, funny, and consistently excellent. Her work ethic is fantastic, and her ideas are always thoughtful and insightful.”
“I’m excited to join Rodeo Show and work with my old friends Mike and Hani [Selim, EP/managing director],” adds Walker from her home in Chicago. “I love the way they think about and approach each production, especially when a project is challenging. Their sensibilities match my own and I truly believe we can pull off the impossible when our creative minds come together on behalf of a director and the creative vision.”
Walker most recently served as SVP, EP/head of integrated television production for Edelman. At Edelman, Walker oversaw the Kellogg’s account, which she recalled, “never had fewer than a dozen projects in production at any given moment.” These included projects as varied as executing brand partnerships between Special K and actress Taraji P. Henson, launching a pop- up restaurant for Pringles in Times Square, and creating an edible playable record for Frosted Flakes. “With Edelman being totally rooted in earned media, we had to ensure that every project was of-the-moment and culturally relevant,” recalls Walker.
Prior to that, Walker brought her producing talents to Chicago’s TRIS3CT, where she was Head of Production for the independent ad agency. There, she oversaw and produced content for the Chicago Bears, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Conagra Foods, Kimberly Clark, Feeding America, and many others. In addition, Walker ran TRIS3CT’s in-house full-service production studio, Jerry Rig, marrying her previous wealth of experience in the advertising and production worlds.
Previous experiences saw Walker managing the Midwest region as production director for Razorfish, which included creating content to launch AT&T’s flagship store, managing their motion team, and producing an interactive event around the “Use Me, Leave Me” fleet of shareable bikes at SXSW. Walker also served as EP for Mekanism in New York, and before that, as producer for Believe Media’s L.A. team.
“Rodeo Show has an exciting mix of up-and-comers and more established directors, whose work runs the gamut from docu-style, comedy, performance, music video, emotional storytelling, and beyond,” noted Walker. “As a woman-owned and led production company, we can be very purposeful in working with a diverse and inclusive group of creatives, both in terms of their backgrounds and styles, and mentoring them and offering the proper resources to help them share their unique voices and grow their careers.”
