News & Updates

Lexington's Two Largest Marketing Agencies Merge

Oct 8th, 08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        

For information, contact Mary Ellen Slone or Larry Chiles
(859) 299-6999

LEXINGTON’S TWO LARGEST MARKETING AGENCIES MERGE

LEXINGTON, KY—Having been “friendly competitors” for over two decades, the principals of the area’s two largest advertising/marketing agencies have merged their companies. Meridian Communications, founded by Mary Ellen Slone in 1975, and Jordan-Chiles Advertising, co-founded in 1988 by Larry Chiles, have become Meridian-Chiles, now headquartered in the Fortune Business Centre, off Fortune Drive, in Lexington.

Each company brings unique skills to the joint entity: Meridian’s creative, public relations, print supervision and events experience will meld well with Jordan-Chiles’ long-term and excellent reputation for retail marketing. Both firms have exceptional client rosters: many clients of each firm have long-term, successful alliances with one or the other of the agencies.
 
Going forward, the merged entity will offer, in house, BRAND NEW THINKING to existing and potentially new clients across a multitude of professional disciplines: strategic planning, branding, marketing, advertising, multi-faceted creative design, public relations, crisis management counseling, integrated web development, search engine marketing, video and audio production, printing expertise, as well as special events planning and execution.

“From day one, we have, under one roof, the best, most seasoned and proven talent in the region, period. This new, blended group, our combined expertise and fundamental understandings of the myriad of marketing disciplines in our portfolio of services will be unmatched,” Chiles commented.
 
“This merger gives us the opportunity to greatly enhance the services and options which will be offered to both existing and new clients.  Instead of having to out-source, we’ll be able to provide virtually any service—in house—which will translate into significant cost savings for clients, both large and small.” Slone added. “And, given the economic climate these days, our being able to provide this vast array of expertise, should be a real margin of difference for Meridian-Chiles and our client base.”

Slone founded MER Advertising after having served as Creative Director of Jerrico’s in-house agency; Chiles and Jim Jordan, both successful in the radio sales arena, began Jordan-Chiles, Inc., 13 years later (Jordan was bought out in 2001).  Within the merger, Mrs. Slone will serve as President and Chiles will be Chairman.

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