After years as one of the nation’s leading ad shops, The Martin Agency made it to the top of the list yesterday. The Shockoe Slip advertising firm was named the top U.S. ad agency of 2009 by industry publication Adweek. The designation is one of the top honors in the industry—and the first time Martin has received the honor. “This is pretty special,“ said John Adams, Martin’s chairman and CEO.

The advertising world is in the midst of profound changes, and agencies will need to adjust the way they tell stories, the top executive at The Martin Agency said yesterday. John Adams, chairman and CEO of the Shockoe Slip ad shop, said the industry is moving away from an integrated marketing concept and toward a more unified approach.