San Francisco, CA, July 22, 2025 – CEO Andrea Alfano is retiring after 24 years at H/L and 46 years in advertising. Andrea first joined the independent agency as a Partner and EVP before rising to COO and, ultimately, CEO—guiding H/L through decades of transformation and growth.
Andrea’s advertising journey began in account roles at industry heavyweights Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam, TBWA\Chiat\Day, and Publicis Hal Riney. A turn to working on the client side at SelfCare.com led to Andrea’s collaboration with H/L. That experience reignited her passion for agency life and the creative process, prompting her to consider returning to the world of advertising. She made the leap and, over time, helped shape H/L into the nationally recognized agency it is today.
When Andrea joined H/L, it was a much smaller agency with a handful of blue-chip clients and a primarily regional presence, a sharp contrast to the global networks where she’d spent the early part of her career. Over the years, she helped guide the agency’s nationwide expansion while ensuring H/L stayed grounded in the things that mattered: its people, culture, and the quality of its work.
Now, H/L has a national footprint. In 2013, H/L moved into the Northeast with McDonald’s in Boston and later expanded dramatically throughout different regions across the country—the independent ad agency currently boasts six offices and 175 employees in 21 states. H/L’s depth and breadth of experience encompass unparalleled talent in Media, Data and Innovation, Multicultural Marketing, and Creative, with a rapidly growing AI initiative. Thanks to Andrea, H/L can Make Momentum™ on an expansive level that rivals larger agencies.
Known for its exemplary culture, Andrea’s influence can be felt throughout H/L, most notably in the sense of camaraderie, mutual respect, and its open-door policy. She leaves behind a legacy of safety and an environment where everyone feels comfortable voicing their perspectives and opinions.
Andrea says, reflecting on her retirement, “H/L is a very talented, passionate, driven team. Our talent, coupled with the technology and innovation we’re building to move our clients’ businesses forward, will set us up for the future and set our clients up for growth. The future is bright and exciting, and I’m anxious to see where H/L moves next. I’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines.”
Since 1985, H/L has been fiercely independent and committed to Make Momentum.™ The company’s strengths include local and national media activations, creative development, insights and analytics, full-scale digital and video production, multicultural marketing, and PR. H/L is headquartered in Oakland, California, with people in 22 states and offices in Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, and St. Louis. What unites H/Lers across the country is a common drive—to pioneer new ways to push clients’ businesses forward and serve its communities.
