INDIANAPOLIS, IN (March 25, 2025) – The Basement (https://thebsmnt.com) Co-Founders, Brian Phillips and Jacob Leffler, are rejoining the agency’s day-to-day operations after a three-year hiatus, bringing a fresh perspective and renewed energy to the company they built. During their time away, Phillips and Leffler remained actively involved as members of The Basement’s Board of Directors, focusing on initiatives to strengthen the agency, including a new office space where clients and employees alike can find inspiration and work collaboratively to create ground-breaking work.

Phillips and Leffler’s decision to step away from the daily grind of entrepreneurship was rooted in a desire to prioritize their mental health – a decision more leaders recognize as critical for long-term business success. According to Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianhayesii/2024/06/26/ceo-mental-health-how-executive-therapy-benefits-leaders/), sixty percent of senior leaders report a negative impact on their mental health due to work stress over the past year. Burnout can lead to impaired decision-making, decreased productivity, and business stagnation. By taking time to reset, Phillips and Leffler have returned to The Basement with a renewed commitment to fostering a culture where creativity thrives, and both clients and employees can succeed.

Now, with renewed purpose and energy, both Phillips, as Chief Creative Officer, and Leffler, as President, are ready to elevate The Basement’s operational excellence and inspire creativity.

In his role as Chief Creative Officer, Phillips will leverage his extensive experience as a storyteller, artist, and industry disruptor to develop powerful ideas that intersect narrative, creativity, and digital innovation. “Stepping away gave me the space to rediscover what fuels my strategy. I’m so impressed and proud of the work our agency has done and am excited to return with a renewed perspective and work alongside our teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible for our clients,” Phillips commented.

A leader known for transforming data-driven insights into marketing success, Leffler brings a wealth of experience and a relentless curiosity to his role as President. “Taking the time to reset allowed us to reflect on the agency’s trajectory and refine our vision for the future. I’m excited to be ingrained in the daily operations once again and to continue to build on The Basement’s strong foundation that our staff has always been so devoted to,” Leffler reflected.

As The Basement enters this new chapter, Phillips and Leffler are eager to continue collaborating with brands that are ready to roll up their sleeves, get curious, and solve complex business problems together. While the agency has evolved over the past year, The Basement’s core mission remains unchanged: Fascination is the foundation for all great work.

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About The Basement
The Basement is a full-service ad agency where fascination is the foundation. Below the ecosystem of strategy, creative, media, and analytics lies a constant drive to question and measure what’s possible. We help brands succeed by turning strategy into idea-driven campaigns that can’t be ignored. For more, visit www.thebsmnt.com.