Many companies claim that the secret to a successful relationship with a client is to listen to what they say. David Tann dismisses this notion. He and his team at the Tantrum Agency listen to what a client means. “We’re a branding firm,” he explains. “When a client hires us, they are typically having issues telling their brand story or expressing some aspect of who they want to be or would like to become. Our job is to help them find that voice and articulate it in an emotional and strategic way.”
After a career spent working as an in-house creative for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, Tann left his job as VP, Creative Director for the Atlanta Hawks in 2018 to pursue his dream of starting an agency. Five years later, Tantrum’s success as an award-winning, multidisciplinary branding firm and creative consultancy stands strong among its mature agency counterparts. Within the last year, Tantrum has added well-known clients such as Microsoft, Soma Intimates, Bath & Body Works and DJ Khaled’s BLESSWELL, as well as public and nonprofit sector organizations like Share Our Strength.
In 2022, Tann was invited to join Magnet Global, the 75-year-old global marketing and advertising network of leading independent advertising agencies with offices and resources in 100 key cities around the world, including markets such as Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Moscow, Copenhagen, Buenos Aires, Seoul and Tokyo.
Tann and his company have been featured in numerous industry publications, including Marketing Brew and a DigiDay magazine headline story centered on Tann’s experience leading a Black-owned agency during the pandemic and the social unrest of 2020 and 2021. Tantrum has been recognized by the American Marketing Association (AMA). The agency won the 2021 AMA award for Visual Branding/Identity, and Tann was named the 2021 Marketer of the Year by the AMA Atlanta chapter.
Service and mentorship are paramount to who Tann is as a person and as a leader. He continues to stay connected to the next generation through his mentorship of young professionals and his volunteer work in the classroom. He serves on the advisory board for Atlanta Public Schools and remains closely connected to his alma mater, the Miami Ad School. Tann is especially proud of the agency’s work with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg public school system, designing the digital marketing and sports marketing curricula for the district’s high schools.
As a creative consultant, Tann believes the best work considers both the head and the heart. His team mines for hidden gems that come from his collaboration with clients. “We promise to be curious in our approach but emotional in our execution.”
