Fingerpaint Group Announces New CEO and Executive Promotions

Wellness marketing agency promotes internal talent to key leadership roles

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Cedar Knolls-based Fingerpaint Group, a wellness marketing agency that partners with 22 of the top 25 pharma companies and serves nearly 200 active clients, has announced several executive promotions. Bill McEllen has been promoted from global president to chief executive officer, succeeding founder Ed Mitzen. Mark Willmann has been elevated from president of Marketing Services to group president, while Tracy Blackwell has been promoted from managing director to president of Marketing Services.

Why it matters

The leadership changes at Fingerpaint Group reflect the company's commitment to promoting internal talent and maintaining its strong company culture as it continues to scale and grow its business. The promotions of McEllen, Willmann, and Blackwell demonstrate the firm's confidence in its existing leadership team to guide the agency through its next phase of expansion.

The details

Bill McEllen, who has been with Fingerpaint since the early days, will succeed founder Ed Mitzen as the new CEO. Mitzen will remain an active board member, continuing to shape the company's long-term vision. Mark Willmann has been elevated to the newly created role of group president, overseeing the company's three operating segments: Marketing Services, Medical, and Market Access. Tracy Blackwell, a nine-year Fingerpaint veteran, has been promoted to president of the Marketing Services division.

  • Fingerpaint Group announced the executive promotions on March 2, 2026.

The players

Bill McEllen

Promoted from global president to chief executive officer, succeeding Fingerpaint founder Ed Mitzen.

Ed Mitzen

Founder of Fingerpaint Group who will remain an active and engaged board member, continuing to shape the company's long-term vision.

Mark Willmann

Elevated from president of Marketing Services to group president, assuming unified strategic leadership and accountability across all three of Fingerpaint Group's operating segments.

Tracy Blackwell

Promoted from managing director to president of the Marketing Services division, a nine-year Fingerpaint veteran with a proven track record of building high-performing teams and leading them to exponential growth.

Fingerpaint Group

A wellness marketing agency that partners with 22 of the top 25 pharma companies and serves nearly 200 active clients.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Ed built something that most agency founders never achieve: a company with a genuine soul. My job has been to continually scale that while making sure that the culture, the partner obsession and the standard of work that got us here don't just survive growth — they drive it.”

— Bill McEllen, Chief Executive Officer (roi-nj.com)

“These promotions are a direct reflection of the investment we've made in our people over many years. We didn't need to look outside these walls. The leaders we needed were already here, already proven and already trusted by our client partners and colleagues alike. That's not an accident. It's the result of intentional culture-building and succession planning that I'm incredibly proud of.”

— Ed Mitzen, Founder (roi-nj.com)

What’s next

Fingerpaint Group is expected to continue its growth trajectory under the new leadership team, with a focus on maintaining the company's strong culture and partner relationships as it scales its operations.

The takeaway

Fingerpaint Group's decision to promote internal talent to key leadership roles demonstrates the company's commitment to developing and retaining its top employees, which has been a key driver of its success in the highly competitive wellness marketing industry.