GEICO’s Maxwell the Pig launches campaign for top spot as advertising ‘Icon of the Year’

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maxwell the Pig is crisscrossing the campaign trail to let voters know why he’s expressly qualified to be advertising’s 2012 icon of the year.

“Umm, like I have a really cool job already, seriously I do. And this is just a super huge honor, really it is.”

“Most people know I work for GEICO and that we can help bring drivers great savings on their auto insurance,” said Maxwell. “In fact, I’ve heard many of them say ‘weeeeeeeeeeee’ after they get a quote. That pretty much speaks for itself.”

It’s Maxwell’s time to shine in Advertising Week’s 2012 Madison Avenue Walk of Fame competition, the industry’s answer to The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Online voting is now open and continues through Oct. 1. Vote now at http://www.buzzfeed.com/adweek2012/pick-your-favorite-advertising-icon.

Maxwell says he’s very excited about his nomination. “Umm, like I have a really cool job already, seriously I do. And this is just a super huge honor, really it is.” To view some popular Maxwell appearances, please go to GEICO’s YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/GEICO/

Maxwell would be the second GEICO advertising icon to earn the honor; the GEICO Gecko was named advertising icon of the year in 2005. With an eye to the online voting, the Gecko was quoted as saying, “I mean you look at all the blokes he’s up against and he’s a shoo-in if you ask me.”

The Martin Agency in Richmond, Va., has been GEICO’s advertising agency of record since 1994, leading the charge on the marketing efforts featuring GEICO’s popular icons.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. GEICO handles auto insurance coverage for over 11 million private passenger auto policies and insures more than 18 million vehicles (auto & cycle).

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for boats, collector cars, life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available. For more information, go to http://www.geico.com.