Joe Osborn has elected to retire after co-founding Osborn & Barr Communications 22 years ago. Osborn, who helped grow the company to North America’s largest agricultural and rural marketing agency, has elected to step back from day-to-day management of the agency and assume a consulting role. The move will allow Osborn to divide his time between his many professional interests as well as provide flexibility for his travel to the East and West coasts.

“This is an exciting time for the agency. In recent years, we’ve re-focused our core business, which positions O&B well for current and future growth. I strongly believe the agency’s best days are ahead, and I’m pleased to help in the transition to new leadership,” Osborn said. 

Osborn, a Texas native, spent 11 years in New York in the advertising industry and was a creative director for DFS and Muller Jordan Weiss before relocating to St. Louis to co-found the agency that became Osborn & Barr (O&B). Osborn’s work and creative leadership has been continuously recognized during his 38-year career having worked on many industry-leading brands and campaigns.
 
Although Osborn no longer will be at the agency on a daily basis, he will continue to counsel on a part-time basis over the next few years. His knowledge and industry experience will continue to be an asset to O&B employees and clients alike.

 “Although I didn’t know Joe that well when we formed the agency 22 years ago with Jim Robertson and Dave Althaus, it quickly became clear that we shared the same vision for a new type of agency” said partner and Chairman Steve Barr. “We developed and built Osborn & Barr over the years by combining the best in strategic planning, understanding agricultural marketing and rural lifestyle, and developing creative solutions to marketing goals. Joe’s creative intuition and dedication to doing things the right way helped us become North America’s largest agricultural and rural marketing agency.”

The O&B executive management team will consist of Barr along with partners Michael Turley (CEO) and Rhonda Ries-Aguilar (CFO). “Both Rhonda and Michael have contributed significantly to our rapid growth and have proven their strategic and management skills,” stated Barr. “They are also in the process of acquiring significant percentages of O&B shares, which will complete the transition of ownership based on Joe’s retirement. I couldn’t be more pleased than to have both Rhonda and Michael assuming day-to-day management and leading the continued growth of O&B.”

Osborn & Barr concentrates on relationship-driven branding communications for the agriculture, rural- lifestyle and outdoors markets to maximize the image and profitability of its clients. Its staff of more than 120 professionals provides brand management, strategic planning, event planning and marketing, creative services, public relations, media services, social marketing, digital marketing and channel marketing. The 22-year-old agency has $125 million in capitalized annual billings. The agency’s headquarters office is located in St. Louis, with an additional office in Kansas City. Osborn & Barr can be contacted via phone at 1-888-235-4332 or 314-726-5511, or at www.osborn-barr.com.

Contact:
Sue Dillon
888-235-4332, ext.1935
Email: dillons@osborn-barr.com