TV Comedy and Advertising Writer Alexis Wilkinson Joins Cornett as Senior Copywriter

May. 12, 2023

Alexis Wilkinson, a "writer, humorist, director and nice lady," has joined the independent, female-owned, full-service ad agency Cornett as senior copywriter. 

But Wilkinson isn’t just funny. She’s staff writer for Veep and Brooklyn Nine-Nine funny; first black female president of the Harvard Lampoon funny. 

Wilkinson got her first TV-writing gig while still in school by sending copies of the Lampoon to Harvard trustees and asking if they had job leads. David Mandel, the showrunner for Veep saw the request and snapped her up. Wilkinson was the sole person of color in Veep’s writers’ room. She moved to Brooklyn Nine-Nine next and eventually decided to concentrate more on her own writing. Her first audiobook, the Co-Founder, is being developed as a film. Concurrently. She is also a writer at The New Yorker.

Add to that, previous copywriting experience with Goodby Silverstein & Partners, FCB West, and Old Navy, and it’s easy to see why she is a sought-after hire.

Having a good sense of humor was a major asset in the eyes of Whit Hiler, Cornett’s executive creative director:

"Alexis brings an energy and wit that is unmatched. She’s a powerhouse creative. Hiring Alexis is just another way we keep upleveling our offerings."

 

Wilkinson, who is originally from Wisconsin, went to school at Harvard, and spent a few years between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In June, she will be moving to Lexington, home to the award-winning Cornett shop. Wilkinson is the fourth recent hire Cornett has attracted from outside the local area in the past six months. 

Hiler exclaimed:

"We let our work speak for itself, and it’s caught the attention of top talent from Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, and now San Francisco. We want to be the best small agency in the country, and the addition of Alexis is one more step in helping us get there."