RICHMOND, VA—Kelly O’Keefe, professor and former managing director at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter and CEO of O’Keefe Brands, has joined CRT/tanaka as chief creative officer in the agency’s Richmond office.

O’Keefe will lead the agency’s branding capabilities, as well as oversee the award-winning agency’s interactive and creative design practice. His company, O’Keefe Brands, has been folded into CRT/tanaka.

Patrice Tanaka, the agency’s other chief creative officer, will continue to lead agency promotion and new business development efforts from the agency’s New York office.

O’Keefe has more than 25 years of branding experience and is an entrepreneur known for pioneering work in digital marketing, brand strategy and creativity. He has been a strategic brand adviser to clients such as General Electric, ESPN, Walmart, UPS, Sesame Street and The Home Depot.