Orkin, the pest control industry leader, has launched a bold new national campaign, “Pests Are Smart, Orkin Pros Are Smarter,” in partnership with creative agency DDB Chicago. Just in time for peak pest season, the campaign leans into humor, puppetry, and scientific accuracy to spotlight the unmatched expertise of Orkin’s highly trained professionals.
Using handcrafted puppets from members of Wes Anderson’s creative team, the new spots bring a colorful cast of pests to life — from beer-loving cockroaches to backyard-savvy mosquitoes — each determined to outsmart homeowners. However, these clever pests quickly meet their match: an Orkin Pro armed with 160+ hours of expert training and real entomological know-how.
The campaign’s quirky puppets are voiced by a comedic lineup that includes Brian Huskey, Hugh Scott, and Chris Candy, son of comedy legend John Candy. Directed to be surprisingly lifelike yet distinctly playful, the pests’ personalities tap into real-world pest behavior while adding an imaginative twist.
“With this campaign, we wanted to spotlight just how smart and well-trained our Orkin Pros really are,” said Cam Glover, Vice President of Marketing at Orkin USA. “By mixing real pest facts with puppet magic, we created a fun and memorable way to show how Orkin delivers serious know-how — and serious peace of mind.”
“Working closely with Orkin’s team of entomologists allowed us to root the campaign in scientific accuracy while giving pests a human-like edge,” added Colin Selikow, Chief Creative Officer at DDB Chicago. “The result is a visually striking and unexpected take on pest control storytelling.”
Launching today, the four 15- to 30-second spots will run across TV, digital, and social through September 2025, with high-profile placements during the NHL Playoffs and Championship broadcasts.
CREDITS:
BRAND: Orkin USA
- President: Pat Chrzanowski
- Vice President, Marketing: Cam Glover
- Marketing Directors: Brian Harrison, Lia Vaughn, Andrew Foster
- Marketing Managers: Devika Mathur, Khadijah Abe
- Team Members: Ian Williams, Benjamin Hottel
AGENCY: DDB Chicago
- Chief Executive Officer: Caroline Winterton
- Chief Creative Officer: Colin Selikow
- Head of Strategy: Jaime McGill
- Group Creative Directors: Amy Gozalka, Katie Bero
- Creative Directors: Jeff Hodgson, Eli Ferrer, Ross Saunders
- Producer: John Paul Ward
- Business Lead: Samantha Olis
- Account Executive: Charlie Sorrells
- Strategy Director: Lucy Remitz
- Strategist: Abby Dehyle
- Production Manager: Ericka Lynn Svenonius
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