Terminix is giving pest control a voice, and it’s surprisingly melodic. The brand’s new national campaign, “Ahhh,” turns prevention into a performance, transforming the familiar relief of a pest-free home into a full-blown musical moment.
Developed with BBDO Chicago, the campaign reimagines Terminix’s long-standing “AHH!” mnemonic as an anthem of reassurance. In the spots, Terminix technicians appear in choir robes, harmonizing lines like “No bugs here!” as they emerge from crawl spaces, basements, and other pest-prone corners of the home. The result is equal parts joyful and disarming, reframing pest control not as a reactive service, but as a source of calm and confidence. Watch below:
“When pests are out of sight, they’re often out of mind, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone,” said John Skinner, interim chief marketing officer for Rentokil Terminix. “With the ‘Ahhh’ campaign, we wanted to address that familiar anxiety by positioning our technicians as the ultimate experts in prevention. By leading with joy and musicality instead of traditional industry tropes, we’re shifting the conversation toward proactive peace of mind.”
Sound plays a central role in the creative, turning what’s usually hidden and unsettling into something memorable and even uplifting. By replacing the idea of unseen pests with voices of assurance, the campaign leans into music as a brand asset while spotlighting the professionalism and pride of Terminix’s frontline technicians.
“We loved the idea of turning the places pests usually hide into moments of surprise and delight,” said Adam Repp, VP creative director at BBDO Chicago. “By filling those spaces with music instead of pests, we created a simple, memorable way to dramatize the peace of mind Terminix provides.”
The campaign includes a suite of 15-second and 30-second broadcast spots, supported by 06- and 10-second social executions and a library of still photography. “Ahhh” will run nationally across streaming CTV and social platforms, bringing a lighter, more human tone to a category that rarely sings, literally or otherwise.
Chicago made it. Chicago sang it. And somehow, pest control has never sounded so good.
CREDITS:
BRAND: Rentokil North America
- Chief Marketing Officer: John Skinner
- Marketing Director: John Skinner
- Brand Director: Janice Crisostomo
- Brand Manager: Greer Missouri
AGENCY: BBDO Chicago
- Executive Creative Director: Amy Ditchman
- Creative Director: Adam Repp
- Associate Creative Director: Alli Elster
- Associate Creative Director: Derrick Yousefi
- Vice President: Amy Ditchman
- Vice President: Adam Repp
- Vice President: Kevin Burke
- Account Supervisor: Jessica Narvaez
- Account Executive: Josephine Sullivan
- Planning Director: Alex Webb
- Strategic Planner: Alyssa Forman
- Producer: Laura Perfect
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