# Chris Heaton

> Chris Heaton is the CEO and an owner of CRIMSON, the Detroit brand-advocacy agency formerly known as Mort Crim Communications. A Wayne State University graduate with more than 25 years at the firm, he moved from COO and CFO to CEO during a planned 2020 ownership transition, then helped recast the agency around the idea that a brand's purpose should guide its identity, strategy and promotion.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and owner at CRIMSON
- **Organizations:** CRIMSON, Mort Crim Communications Inc., Wayne State University
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree, Wayne State University
- **Known for:** Rose from COO and CFO to CEO through a planned ownership transition in 2020., Co-led the 2023 transformation of Mort Crim Communications into CRIMSON., Built and promoted brands across private and public sectors, including work associated with General Motors, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the EPA and Michigan civic and nonprofit organizations.

## Career timeline

- **circa 1999** — Began his long tenure with Mort Crim Communications; in 2024 he described having spent 25 years with the firm and its predecessor.
- **before 2020** — Served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Mort Crim Communications.
- **2020** — Joined Richard Donley, Todd Haight and Jennette Smith Kotila in buying the agency from Terrence Oprea; became CEO.
- **2023** — Helped rebrand Mort Crim Communications as CRIMSON, retaining its communications heritage while centering the firm on brand advocacy.
- **2025** — Announced six leadership promotions, including Jennette Smith Kotila as president and four new vice-president roles.

## Achievements

- Rose from COO and CFO to CEO through a planned ownership transition in 2020.
- Co-led the 2023 transformation of Mort Crim Communications into CRIMSON.
- Built and promoted brands across private and public sectors, including work associated with General Motors, NOAA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the EPA and Michigan civic and nonprofit organizations.
- Kept the agency headquartered in downtown Detroit while expanding its office footprint during the ownership transition.
- Formalized a broader leadership team through six promotions announced in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — CRIMSON announced six promotions, including a new agency president and four vice-president roles; Heaton said the changes formalized leadership already being exercised.
- **2024-07** — Heaton published an account of the agency's evolution from Mort Crim Communications to CRIMSON and its brand-advocacy positioning.

## Links

- Website: https://crimsonagency.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-heaton-08634140/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/chris-heaton
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-22