Crockett assumes CEO title at Mower agency

Syracuse–based Mower says it has appointed Stephanie Crockett (right) as president and CEO of the advertising, marketing, and public-relations firm. She had been serving as president and COO. Crockett succeeds Eric Mower (left), who has become the agency’s executive chairman. (PHOTO CREDIT: MOWER)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A long-time employee of the Syracuse–based Mower agency is now serving as the company’s CEO. Mower, a marketing-communications firm, on Jan. 27 announced it named Stephanie Crockett CEO. Crockett assumes the CEO title from Eric Mower, who now becomes executive chairman of the company he has guided since 1968. Crockett was named […]

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A long-time employee of the Syracuse–based Mower agency is now serving as the company’s CEO.

Mower, a marketing-communications firm, on Jan. 27 announced it named Stephanie Crockett CEO.

Crockett assumes the CEO title from Eric Mower, who now becomes executive chairman of the company he has guided since 1968. Crockett was named Mower president and COO in June 2021. She joined the advertising, marketing, and public-relations firm 18 years ago.

The agency tells CNYBJ that it has no plans to fill the COO role as of now and that the Mower senior-leadership team will work with Crockett on decision making.

Mower is headquartered at 211 W. Jefferson St. in Syracuse in the Jefferson Clinton Commons building, across from the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (the MOST). Mower has additional offices in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany, per its website.

In August 2022, Eric Mower sold the company to a newly established employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The announcement “marks the most recent point in a long-in-the-making” ownership transition and succession plan that began nearly 10 years ago when Mower first considered an ESOP as an alternative to an outside sale.

“Mower continues to build on a 55-year heritage as an independent strategic creative resource for our clients. Eric created something unique — an integrated communications firm producing award winning campaigns for an amazing list of clients,” Crockett contended. “Our industry continues to evolve, and now as an ESOP, Mower is structured to flourish in this new environment. We have a spectacular team of professionals that produce results for the brands we represent.”

Crockett, 49, is active in a number of professional, business, and community organizations. 

She is immediate past-chairperson of the United Way of Central New York board of directors, a member of the CenterState CEO board of directors, the Women Presidents Organization, and the National Advertising Review Board. 

In mid-November, she was selected to receive the 2023 Crystal Ball Award from the Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives — an honor that Eric Mower also received in 1984.

Eric Reinhardt: