Jessica Hawthorne-Castro
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Hawthorne-Castro is CEO of Hawthorne. Jessica has strategically positioned the agency to be at the forefront of advertising, where art meets science. She is committed to providing data-driven solutions and proprietary tools to help clients maximize their advertising investment dollars. From creative and production to strategy, media and analytics, Jessica ensures quality and innovation throughout all disciplines of the agency.
Her role involves helping Hawthorne’s team envision, create and execute powerful advertising campaigns that build brands and ignite consumers to take action. Jessica fosters long-standing relationships with the company’s expansive base of diversified clients with her unwavering commitment to unparalleled service.
Her strategy is renowned for her hands-on and highly responsive approach. Jessica has leveraged the agency’s success in attribution and ROI to provide best in class service to existing and new clients.
As CEO of Hawthorne, Jessica has prioritized company culture and corporate social responsibility and is a Climate Change Reality Ambassador. Today, Hawthorne is a certified woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a Great Place to Work®, and on the Inc. 5000 list.
As a thought leader, Jessica is a writing contributor for various industry publications and speaks on panels offering insights on key industry trends. She has published hundreds of articles with Forbes, AdAge, AdWeek, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, American Marketing Association, and many more.
In addition, Jessica has received many awards for her career accomplishments, including: Ernst & Young (EY) “Entrepreneur Of The Year” winner in the Transformational Leader category, Greater Los Angeles; the 2019 “Elite Marketer” in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential Marketers in Southern California; “Women to Watch” for the “Marketing Hall of Femme” Direct Marketing News; “Women’s Summit Awards Nomination” by Los Angeles Business Journal; “Woman of Influence” by L.A. Biz and Biz Women; “CEO of the Year in Technology-Based Advertising” for the 2019 Innovation & Excellence Awards; “Female CEO of the Year in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations” & “Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year” from CEO World Awards; Marketing EDGE’s “Rising Star Award”; “Top 40 Under 40” by Direct Marketing News; Finance Monthly CEO Awards “Business Women of the Year” & “Monthly Game Changers Awards”; “CEO Global Award” CEO Today Magazine; and the and “Woman of the Year – Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations” & “ Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year” from the Stevie Awards.
Hawthorne-Castro is an active member of her professional community. She is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only organization for senior-level executives in public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. In September 2017, she joined the ANA ECHO Board of Governors, the elite group behind one of the most coveted prizes in marketing and is the incoming Chair of the Board. Jessica is a participant in TED International, TED Women communities and Vistage International. She is also a member of Young Presidents’ Organization, the global organization empowering more than 25,000 members in more than 130 countries and is the Chapter Chair for YPO Los Angeles and on the YPO Pacific U.S Regional Executive Board.
Prior to joining Hawthorne Direct, Hawthorne-Castro was a TV literary agent with William Morris Endeavor, one of Hollywood’s top, full-service talent agencies, where she identified and negotiated opportunities for shows airing on all major networks. She also packaged key elements necessary to develop shows with executives from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, HBO, USA, Bravo and others, and assisted the creators of numerous top-rated programs.
When Jessica isn’t busy with the company, culture, and board participation, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling the world (over 50 countries so far!). She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son.
