Component Rebrand
Country Base: USA
Industry/Sector/Keywords: Financial Services/Insurance, Finance, Financial Advisors, Investments, Athletes, Entertainment, Sports, Musicians, Wealth Management

Below: Before and After Images in Slide Show, Summary

Summary
Industry Setting

Morgan Stanley’s Global Sports and Entertainment division is dedicated to serving the unique and sophisticated needs of professional athletes and entertainers. The financial advisors in the segment help manage the wealth of clients ranging from athletes just beginning a professional career to seasoned entertainment industry executives.

Challenge

The initial branding approach developed for this segment became dated quickly and felt too disconnected from the overall Morgan Stanley masterbrand, which was undergoing a rebrand at the time.

Strategy

The goal was to develop a visual approach that would both align to the Firm’s larger visual identity system and speak to both professional athletes and musicians alike, while infusing a modern, sophisticated feel across all collateral materials. The business moved away from collages of various themes (sports, music, etc.) and focused on elevated photography that spoke to the common thread among all audiences – being in the spotlight. The design team curated a library of sophisticated, spotlight-focused images for general use, and authentic people-focused images for use in targeted communications (sponsorship ads, digital posts, personalized marketing for financial advisors, etc.)

Result

The updated marketing collateral has driven better engagement with the financial advisors and helped support recruiting efforts for advisors considering joining the firm. Strategic event sponsorships and ad buys have leveraged targeted messaging and visuals to drive engagement with Morgan Stanley.

Credits

Client: Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment – www.morganstanley.com/gse

Managing Director, Head of Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment: Sandra Richards
Executive Director, Marketing Lead: Jillian Vella
Executive Director, Head of Brand: Ivan Cayabyab

Brand Strategists/Designers: Morgan Stanley Brand Team – www.morganstanley.com

Creative Director: Anja Bauer Minkara
Creative Director: Bill Anstadt
Associate Creative Director: Buddy King
Senior Art Director: Blair Prentice