NEW YORK, NY – June 4, 2026 – Method1, the independent full-service creative and media agency grounded in behavioral science and built for indulgence brands, today announced the appointment of Jodi Heelan as CEO.
Heelan joins Method1 following more than a decade at The Variable, where she most recently served as President and helped lead the agency through a period of operational transformation and commercial evolution. Over the course of her career, she has become known for helping agencies rethink how creativity, commercial performance and operational excellence work together in a rapidly changing industry.
In her new role, Heelan will help shape Method1’s next phase of growth across client leadership, strategy, operations and innovation. She will support the agency’s continued evolution toward a more modern, scalable agency model built around sharpening the agency’s market position and expanding its proprietary intelligence around indulgence brands, as well as helping these brands respond to changing consumer dynamics around value, wellness, pleasure and reward.
“Jodi understands how creativity, operations, data and business performance connect in a way that very few agency leaders do,” said MichaelAaron Flicker, Founder of Method1. “As we continue evolving Method1’s positioning and capabilities, her ability to build scalable systems, modern agency models and commercially accountable partnerships makes her an incredibly important addition to our leadership team.”
Method1 has carved out a distinct position in the market through its focus on indulgence brands and its application of proven behavioral science, helping deliver the right messages in the correct contexts and optimal moments to consumers, in turn influencing decision-making. The agency works across categories including spirits, beverage alcohol and broader CPG, helping brands close the gap between craving and choice through evidence-based creative and media strategy.
“Method1 is building something genuinely differentiated,” said Heelan. “The agency’s focus on behavioral science, indulgence and measurable business impact creates a powerful foundation for modern brand building. I’m excited to help shape what comes next and continue building an agency model designed for where the industry is headed, not where it’s been.”
Heelan brings deep experience leading independent agencies through growth, repositioning and transformation. At The Variable, where she served as President and Partner, she helped shape the agency’s evolution into a nationally recognized independent shop, leading across growth, operations, finance, product innovation and market positioning. Her work included strengthening the agency’s differentiated model, building repeatable growth systems, sharpening commercial discipline and helping elevate the agency’s external profile through thought leadership, industry visibility and client growth conversations. During her tenure, The Variable earned recognition as a five-time Ad Age Small Agency of the Year honoree, reflecting the agency’s sustained creative reputation, business momentum and market standing.
Known for connecting creativity to commercial performance, Heelan has helped agencies translate distinctive thinking into scalable offerings, modern operating models and measurable business outcomes. Her experience spans value-based pricing innovation, productized service models and AI-enabled workflows designed to improve speed, consistency and effectiveness, capabilities that align closely with Method1’s focus on building a more modern, differentiated agency model for indulgence brands.
Heelan began her career in account management before moving into finance and operations leadership, developing a reputation for translating analytics and business performance into actionable growth strategies.
