Andrea Cunningham

Last updated
Andrea Cunningham
AndyCunninghamPic.png
Cunningham on 30 October 2017
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education Northwestern University
Occupation(s)Founder and President, Cunningham Collective
Known forLaunching the Apple Macintosh
Founder of Cunningham Communication
SpouseRand Siegfried
Children2
Website Andy Cunningham

Andrea "Andy" Cunningham is an American strategic marketing and communications entrepreneur. She helped launch the Apple Macintosh in 1984 as a part of Regis McKenna, and founded Cunningham Communication, Inc. [1] [2] She is currently the President of Cunningham Collective, [3] a brand strategy, marketing, and communications firm. Her book, Get to Aha! Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your Competition, was published in October 2017.

Contents

Career

Early career

After graduating from Northwestern University in 1979, Cunningham started her career as a feature writer for Irving-Cloud Publishing Co. covering the trucking industry, but decided that she did not belong in that industry. [4] She joined Burson-Marsteller in Chicago soon after, where she helped to launch the video game Asteroids for Atari, as well as the sweeteners Equal and NutraSweet for G.D. Searle. [5]

Regis McKenna and the Apple Macintosh

In 1983, Cunningham moved to Silicon Valley, where she joined Regis McKenna and worked with Steve Jobs as a project lead on the launch of the Apple Macintosh. [6] [7] She collaborated with Jane Anderson to write the Macintosh launch plan. [8] [9] She continued to work with Apple as a client, helping them launch the desktop publishing category with Aldus Corporation and Adobe Systems. [4] She contributed her experiences with Jobs to Walter Isaacson's biography of him [10] and Aaron Sorkin's script for the film Steve Jobs, [11] [12] in which Sarah Snook portrays her. [13]

Cunningham Communication

After leaving Regis McKenna in 1985, Cunningham founded Cunningham Communication, Inc., [4] where she retained Jobs as a client for NeXT [14] and Pixar. [15] Her firm's work included launching RISC microprocessors for consumer personal computers with IBM and Motorola, [16] [17] very light jets with Eclipse Aviation, [18] digital imaging with Kodak, and software-as-a-service with Hewlett-Packard. The firm was acquired in 2000 and renamed Citigate Cunningham. [19] [20]

CXO Communication

In 2003, Cunningham spun a new consultancy, CXO Communication, out of Citigate Cunningham and became CEO. [21] Instead of focusing on traditional public relations and corporate communications, the CXO focused on brand strategy and positioning. Clients included AMD, Beautiful!, Cisco, Eclipse Aviation, Futuremark, Liveops, MarketTools, PivotPoint Capital, PRTM, RSA, UCSF, VantagePoint Venture Partners, and XOJet. [22] She left the firm in 2010 to become CMO of Rearden Commerce, where she repositioned the company's solutions under the Deem brand. [23]

Bite Communications

After leaving Rearden Commerce in the fall of 2011, Cunningham advised the Bite Communications executive team on a turnaround in North America. Soon after, she was asked to become President of Bite Communications North America. [24] [25] She was promoted on January 1, 2013 to become the CEO of Bite's worldwide operations. She resigned in June 2013 to focus on SeriesC. [26]

Cunningham Collective (formerly SeriesC)

While Cunningham was advising the Bite Communications team, she began to assemble the group that eventually became SeriesC. SeriesC officially launched in the spring of 2012 with Cunningham retaining leadership positions in both SeriesC and Bite. [3] The firm changed its name to Cunningham Collective in August 2015. [27]

From April 2014 to August 2015, Cunningham was the interim Chief Marketing Officer of Avaya. [28] [29] Her tenure there was a Cunningham Collective engagement, as she continued to lead the firm during that period. [30] She led the team that spearheaded the shift in positioning from collaboration to engagement, with an initial focus on Silicon Valley as a catalyst to revitalize awareness of Avaya to the broader tech audience. [31] [32] [33] She also held an interim CMO role with Tendril and was an interim Chief Communications Officer with BlackBerry, all as Cunningham Collective engagements.[ citation needed ]

Cunningham is the author of the book Get to Aha!: Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your Competition. [34]

Boards and non-profit activities

Cunningham serves on the corporate boards of MixR [35] (workplace community building software), Motiv Power Systems [36] (electric vehicles), Onclusive, [37] Specialized Bicycle Components [38] (bicycles and related gear), and Woodward Communications, Inc. (media and marketing services). She has served as a trustee of the Aspen Institute [39] since 2000 and Menlo College [40] since 2014.

She also serves on the several not-for-profit advisory boards: UNICEF, Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications [41] and ZERO1: The Art & Technology Network, [42] an organization she founded in 2000 with the mission to shape the future at the intersection of art and technology. She also serves on the Freeman Design Council, [43] a “special forces” unit of The Freeman Company.

In addition, she serves as an advisor to Traackr, [44] an influencer marketing software company.

Cunningham's past board positions include RhythmOne (advertising technology), Finelite, Inc. (lighting design), YPO, CEO, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and the Computer History Museum. [45]

She is an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow, [46] and a member of WPO, CEO, TED and Women Corporate Directors. She has taught marketing classes at Carnegie Mellon University, Harvard University, New York University, Menlo College, Northwestern University, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, Stanford University and the University of Southern California.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Wozniak</span> American electrical engineer and programmer (born 1950)

Stephen Gary Wozniak, also known by his nickname "Woz", is an American electrical engineer, computer programmer, philanthropist, and inventor. In 1976, he co-founded Apple Computer with his early business partner Steve Jobs. Through his work at Apple in the 1970s and 1980s, he is widely recognized as one of the most prominent pioneers of the personal computer revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Sculley</span> American businessman

John Sculley III is an American businessman, entrepreneur and investor in high-tech startups. Sculley was vice-president (1970–1977) and president of PepsiCo (1977–1983), until he became chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple Inc. on April 8, 1983, a position he held until leaving in 1993. In May 1987, Sculley was named Silicon Valley's top-paid executive, with an annual salary of US$10.2 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Kawasaki</span> American businessman and author (born 1954)

Guy Takeo Kawasaki is an American marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing their Macintosh computer line in 1984. He popularized the word evangelist in marketing the Macintosh as an "Apple evangelist" and the concepts of evangelism marketing and technology evangelism/platform evangelism in general.

<i>Pirates of Silicon Valley</i> 1999 American biographical television film

Pirates of Silicon Valley is a 1999 American biographical drama television film directed by Martyn Burke and starring Noah Wyle as Steve Jobs and Anthony Michael Hall as Bill Gates. Spanning the years 1971–1997 and based on Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine's 1984 book Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer, it explores the impact that the rivalry between Jobs and Gates (Microsoft) had on the development of the personal computer. The film premiered on TNT on June 20, 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Hertzfeld</span> American programmer (born 1953)

Andrew Jay Hertzfeld is an American software engineer who was a member of Apple Computer's original Macintosh development team during the 1980s. After buying an Apple II in January 1978, he went to work for Apple Computer from August 1979 until March 1984, where he was a designer for the Macintosh system software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Kare</span> American artist and graphic designer

Susan Kare is an American artist and graphic designer, who contributed interface elements and typefaces for the first Apple Macintosh personal computer from 1983 to 1986. She was employee #10 and Creative Director at NeXT, the company formed by Steve Jobs after he left Apple in 1985. She was a design consultant for Microsoft, IBM, Sony Pictures, Facebook, and Pinterest. As of 2023 Kare was an employee of Niantic Labs. As a pioneer of pixel art and of the graphical computer interface, she has been celebrated as one of the most significant designers of modern technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macintosh 128K</span> Original Macintosh Computer introduced by Apple Computer in 1984

The Macintosh, later rebranded as the Macintosh 128K, is the original Macintosh personal computer, from Apple. It is the first successful mass-market all-in-one desktop personal computer with a graphical user interface, built-in screen, and mouse. It was pivotal in establishing desktop publishing as a general office function. The motherboard, a 9 in (23 cm) CRT monochrome monitor, and a floppy drive are in a beige case with integrated carrying handle; it has a keyboard and single-button mouse. The Macintosh was introduced by a television commercial titled "1984" during Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984, and directed by Ridley Scott. Sales were strong at its initial release on January 24, 1984, at $2,495, and reached 70,000 units on May 3, 1984. Upon the release of its successor, the Macintosh 512K, it was rebranded as the Macintosh 128K. The computer's model number is M0001.

Michael "Scotty" Scott is an American entrepreneur, who was the first CEO of Apple Computer from February 1977 to March 1981. Formerly director of manufacturing at National Semiconductor, Scott was persuaded by Mike Markkula to take the CEO position at Apple, as the co-founders — Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak — were both seen as insufficiently experienced for the job at the time.

Armas Clifford "Mike" Markkula Jr. is an American electrical engineer, businessman and investor. He was the original angel investor, first chairman, and second CEO for Apple Computer, Inc., providing critical early funding and managerial support. At the company's incorporation, Markkula owned 26% of Apple, equivalent to each of the shares owned by cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Steve Capps is a pioneering American computer programmer and software engineer, who was one of the original designers of the Apple Macintosh computer and co-designers of the Finder in the 1980s. He also led development of the Apple Newton PDA and designed music software such as SoundEdit, before developing user interface (UI) designs for Microsoft's Internet Explorer and online/mobile payment systems.

Joanna Karine Hoffman is a Polish-American marketing executive. She was one of the original members of both the Apple Macintosh team and the NeXT team.

Regis McKenna was an American marketer in Silicon Valley and introduced some techniques today commonplace among advertisers. He and his firm helped market the first microprocessor, Apple's first personal computer, the first recombinant DNA genetically engineered product, and the first retail computer store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Jobs</span> American businessman and inventor (1955–2011)

Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman, inventor, and investor best known for co-founding the technology giant Apple Inc. Jobs was also the founder of NeXT and chairman and majority shareholder of Pixar. He was a pioneer of the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, along with his early business partner and fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Brennan-Jobs</span> American writer

Lisa Nicole Brennan-Jobs is an American writer. She is the daughter of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Chrisann Brennan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Kottke</span> American computer engineer

Daniel Kottke is an American businessman known for having been a college friend of Steve Jobs and one of the first employees of Apple Inc. He met Jobs at Reed College in 1972, and they trekked together through India for spiritual enlightenment and to the All One Farm. In 1976, Kottke realized his interest in computers when Jobs hired him to assemble hobbyist computer projects and then to be a part-time employee at the newly founded Apple Computer. There, he debugged tne Apple II family, prototyped the Apple III and Macintosh, and endured the IPO where Steve Wozniak assigned Kottke some of his own stock. He was portrayed in several films about Apple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac (computer)</span> Family of personal computers made by Apple

The Mac, short for Macintosh, is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The name Macintosh is a reference to a type of apple called McIntosh. The product lineup includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, and the iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro desktops. Macs are sold with the macOS operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZERO1 (nonprofit)</span>

ZERO1: The Art and Technology Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to connecting creative explorers from art, science, and technology to provoke new ideas that serve to shape a more resilient future.

Cunningham Communication, Inc. was a prominent public relations firm in Silicon Valley in the 1980s and 1990s that had many well-known clients in high-tech, including Adobe, Cisco, Motorola, PeopleSoft, Hewlett-Packard, and the IBM Consumer Division. It was founded by Andy Cunningham in 1985, after she left Regis McKenna.

<i>Steve Jobs</i> (film) 2015 film directed by Danny Boyle

Steve Jobs is a 2015 biographical drama film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin. A British-American co-production, it was adapted from the 2011 biography by Walter Isaacson and interviews conducted by Sorkin. The film covers fourteen years in the life of Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs, specifically ahead of three press conferences he gave during that time - the formal unveiling of the Macintosh 128K on January 24, 1984; the unveiling of the NeXT Computer on October 12, 1988; and the unveiling of the iMac G3 on May 6, 1998. Jobs is portrayed by Michael Fassbender, with Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman and Seth Rogen, Katherine Waterston, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jeff Daniels in supporting roles.

References

  1. ↑ Mieszkowski, Katharine (March 31, 1998), "The Power of Public Relations", Fast Company , retrieved May 28, 2013
  2. ↑ Kawasaki, Guy (August 3, 1992). Selling the Dream. HarperBusiness. p. 172. ISBN   978-0887306006.
  3. 1 2 Sudhaman, Arun (April 16, 2012). "Bite's Andy Cunningham Launches Marketing Venture For Series C Startups". The Holmes Report. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 San Jose Mercury News, April 3, 1989. Cunningham's PR Cunning (Archived Article ID: 8901260490)
  5. ↑ Ames, Michael (1994). Pathways to Success, p. 272. (Google Books) Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ Apple Macintosh Marketing Story: Fact & Fiction on YouTube. Computer History Museum Panel, January 22, 2004.
  7. ↑ Zonano, Victor (Aug 4, 1985). "Regis McKenna: The P.R. Guru of Silicon Valley : Clout With High-Tech Firms and Press Is Great, but Some Are Disenchanted". LA Times.
  8. ↑ Cunningham, Andy. "Macintosh Product Introduction Plan". Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley. Stanford University. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ Marinaccio, Wendy. "Andy Cunningham on the Macintosh Introduction". Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley. Stanford University. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ Isaacson, Walter (2011) Steve Jobs, p. 93, 114, 188, 215, 218
  11. ↑ Burrows, Peter (2015-03-27). "Why Apple Feels the Need to Defend Steve Jobs". Bloomberg Business . Retrieved 2015-03-27.
  12. ↑ Chang, Emily (August 26, 2015). "Andy Cunningham: What It Was Like Working With Steve Jobs". Bloomberg. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. ↑ Han, Angie (2015-01-27). "Danny Boyle's 'Steve Jobs' Starts Shooting in San Francisco". /Film . Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  14. ↑ Businessweek, October 24, 1988. Steve Jobs: Can He Do It Again
  15. ↑ Steven P. Jobs and Pixar Employees Buy Pixar Archived November 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (Press release noting her as the PR contact). Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  16. ↑ Meyer, Julie (2012) Welcome to Entrepreneurship Country, Chapter 5. (Google Books) Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  17. ↑ IT Business Edge, October 10, 2008. There's Method Behind Zach Nelson's Madness. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  18. ↑ The Holmes Report, June 29, 2002. Eclipse Aviation Taps Citigate Cunningham. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  19. ↑ PR Week, August 4, 2000. Incepta invests in US high-tech operation. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  20. ↑ The New York Times, July 27, 2000. THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING – ADDENDA; 2 Agencies Agree To Be Acquired. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  21. ↑ PR Week, May 23, 2005. Cunningham rediscovers how cool comms can be. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  22. ↑ CXO Communication clients Archived 2012-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ The Holmes Report, October 25, 2010. Tech PR Veteran Cunningham Takes New Role as CMO at Rearden. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  24. ↑ The Holmes Report, January 26, 2012. Silicon Valley Veteran Andy Cunningham Takes Charge Of Bite North America. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  25. ↑ PR Week, January 26, 2012. Bite hires Cunningham as North American president. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  26. ↑ PR Week, June 6, 2013. Bite CEO Cunningham steps down; Dyson to run agency on interim basis. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  27. ↑ Graham, Victoria (August 26, 2015). "SeriesC is now Cunningham Collective". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  28. ↑ Shah, Aarti (May 18, 2014). "Andy Cunningham Named Avaya CMO". The Holmes Report. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  29. ↑ Pleasant, Blair (August 17, 2015). "Update on Industry News – Summer Edition". Unified Communications Strategies. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  30. ↑ So, Candice (June 19, 2014). "One CMO's journey from Apple to Avaya: Q&A with Andy Cunningham". itBusiness.ca. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  31. ↑ Yapp, Edwin (June 1, 2015). "Avaya's new mantra: From collaboration to engagement". Digital News Asia. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  32. ↑ Michels, Dave (March 2, 2015). "Avaya Has a New Stadium". Talking Pointz. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Project Ava: Finding Avaya's Silicon Valley Cool". Shorty Awards. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  34. ↑ Cunningham, Andrea. "Get to Aha!: Discover Your Positioning DNA and Dominate Your Competition". McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  35. ↑ MixR Board of Advisors: Andy Cunningham
  36. ↑ About - Motive Power Systems
  37. ↑ Pitchbook Onclusive Company Profile Board Members
  38. ↑ "Specialized Bicycle Components Holding Co Inc - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on 2020-06-08.
  39. ↑ The Aspen Institute Board of Trustees: Andrea Cunningham
  40. ↑ "Menlo College Board of Trustees" . Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  41. ↑ Northwestern Medill Board of Advisers
  42. ↑ ZERO1: History
  43. ↑ Freeman Leadership: Andy Cunningham
  44. ↑ "Silicon Valley High-Tech PR and Marketing Pioneer, Andy Cunningham, Joins Traackr's Advisory Board". 16 May 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  45. ↑ Computer History: Andrea Cunningham bio
  46. ↑ AGLN Programs - Henry Crown - Classes

Interviews and other mentions

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.