FKQ Advertising beefs up to meet work demand. (FKQ Advertising Inc.)

McDonald's account fuels an already growing ad agency

Creative talent will always be important in advertising, but in today's markets, it isn't enough by itself.

Clients' needs require that an agency also be committed to state-of-the-art technology, according to Robert O. Faller, president and CEO of FKQ Advertising Inc.

FKQ, Faller said, is actively investing in both.

Those investments paid off last month when the Clearwater-based agency was selected to service the account of the Bay Area cooperative of McDonald's franchisees. Fahlgren Benito had previously held the account. Faller has declined to give a value for the account, but Adweek magazine reported that the contract is worth $2 million.

In any case, it's clear that the account is a significant step for FKQ, which already has hired two new employees to service the account and plans to add a third.

Those new hires are just the most recent in a recruiting drive that's been going on for more than a year and that recently brought a new creative director to the company. Faller said FKQ plans to continue looking for additional personnel.

In recent days, Faller and his staff met with the Bay Area McDonald's cooperative board to finalize …