{{Short description|Israeli businessperson}} {{Infobox person | name = Eilon Zarmon | image = Eilon Zarmon (cropped).jpg | native_name = אילון זרמון | native_name_lang = he | birth_date = 1964 | birth_place = Jerusalem, Israel | education = Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance | alma_mater = }} '''Eilon Zarmon''' ({{langx|he|אילון זרמון}}; born October 22, 1964) is an Israeli advertising executive, businessman, and musician.
==Biography== Eilon Zarmon was raised in Jerusalem, the son of a psychiatrist father and a mathematics teacher mother. At age 16, he completed a degree in musicology at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He was also the principal clarinetist of the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra,<ref name=" Adi Dovrat">Adi Dovrat (June 1, 2008). [https://www.themarker.com/advertising/2008-06-01/ty-article/0000017f-def3-db5a-a57f-defb2c650000 Eilon Zarmon: "The Israeli advertising world is conservative and submissive”]. Haaretz.</ref> the youngest musician in the history of the Philharmonic. Simultaneously, he founded a Jerusalem rock band called "Bli Bass" (Without Bass).<ref>Eran Swisa (November 24, 2010). [https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/47/ART2/181/420.html Ready for publication: Interview with Eilon Zarmon]. Nrg.</ref> He served in the IDF for four years as an officer in the role of company sergeant major in the 35th Paratroopers Brigade.<ref name=" Adi Dovrat"/>
In 1990, at the age of 23, he established a creative office and worked with Africa Israel Investments, Shufersal, Migdal, and Kupat Holim Meuhedet. At age 26, he founded an advertising agency under his name. In 1999, at 33, Zarmon brought Hadar Goldman in as a partner. From 2003 to 2010, the firm ranked between 9th and 11th among advertising agencies in Israel. Among their clients were Best Buy, Fox, Citroën, AIG, Electra, Investec, Tower Records, Bulthaup, Pfizer, Walla! Communications Ltd, Burgeranch, Azrieli Center, Tara, Hed Arzi Music, Tadiran, Israel Electric Corporation, and Sony Mobile. The group was Israel's representative of DDB Worldwide since 2007.<ref>Orna Yefet (September 30, 2007). [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3455022,00.html DDB signed a representation agreement with Zarmon Goldman]. Ynet.</ref> The agency was known for its provocative advertising, with numerous campaigns that were disqualified from broadcast by the Second Authority for Television and Radio, or petitions that were filed against them to the Supreme Court of Israel.<ref>Adi Dovrat (March 16, 2012). [https://www.themarker.com/advertising/2012-03-16/ty-article/0000017f-f6fc-d5bd-a17f-f6fe74a30000 Eilon Zarmon sets out on a new path: “The provocations have lost their charm.”] TheMarker.</ref> In 2002, Haaretz newspaper supplement dedicated a cover story to Zarmon and Goldman, who turned advertising provocation into a method. In it, they attempted to position themselves as bold, young, liberal, and creative, using sexual and racist innuendos, while winning numerous advertising awards in the process. On the other hand, industry executives interviewed for the article criticized them for the crudeness and superficiality of Zarmon and Goldman's advertising, claiming that they tarnished the industry's reputation and rushed to the Supreme Court as if they were knights of free speech.<ref>Merav Sarig (July 31, 2002). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/2002-07-31/ty-article/0000017f-e2a0-d7b2-a77f-e3a7e0d00000 The lowest office in Tel Aviv]. Haaretz.</ref> In the same year, Ynet site also published an article that criticized the office methods,<ref>Michal Rom (January 13, 2002). [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-1532589,00.html Provocative campaigns: a well-thought-out concept]. Ynet.</ref> and Globes published a positive article about them.<ref>(January 16, 2002). [https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=554441 Zarmon Goldman: The Hot Agency; Smadar Hirsch Roamed in the "Bad Boy" of Advertising]. Globes.</ref> The magazine HaAyin HaShevi'it responded to the Haaretz article with its own piece, arguing that a reputable newspaper like Haaretz should not dedicate an article to a pair of provocative advertisers, thereby giving them a platform and promoting them.<ref>Gili Drob-Heistein (September 1, 2002). [https://www.the7eye.org.il/29115 As low as it gets]. HaAyin HaShevi'it.</ref> In February 2012, the partners split, and Zarmon bought Goldman's share.<ref>Tali Heruti-Sover (July 12, 2016). [https://www.themarker.com/magazine/2016-07-12/ty-article/0000017f-e0d3-d7b2-a77f-e3d730270000 “Where did I go wrong? ‘Don’t be afraid, it’s a waste of time.’”] TheMarker.</ref>
In 2012, he established a start-up incubator.<ref>Maya Mena (August 31, 2012). [https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/16/ART2/399/899.html “Elon Zarmon: ‘The race for rankings is bullshit.’”]. Nrg.</ref> One of them, Mintai, signed an agreement with AOL.<ref>Assaf Gilad (September 10, 2013). [https://www.calcalist.co.il/local/articles/0,7340,L-3611918,00.html AOL signed an agreement with the Israeli company Minteye.]. Calcalist.</ref> In 2024, he founded AdGPT, a startup that utilizes AI to create ads across various social media platforms. Its target clients are Small and medium enterprises.<ref>Hana Yoo (May 1, 2024). [https://www.adexchanger.com/ai/adgpt-exits-stealth-to-create-ai-generated-ads-for-smbs/ AdGPT Exits Stealth To Create AI-Generated Ads For SMBs]. Ad Exchanger.</ref>
Zarmon was part of Ehud Barak’s campaign team for Prime Minister of Israel in 1999 for the 1999 Israeli general election.<ref>Dov Gil-Har (September 14, 2016). [https://news.walla.co.il/item/2997179 The election law reform: “Parties will compete against advertisements from commercial companies.”] Walla! Communications Ltd.</ref> In 2006, he managed the campaign of Meretz, which was then headed by Yossi Beilin for the 2006 Israeli legislative election.<ref>Roy Nachmias (December 18, 2005). [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3185826,00.html Beilin: Without dividing Jerusalem, there will be no peace]. Ynet.</ref> In 2012, he managed the campaign of Haim Amsalem, who headed the Am Shalem party for the 2013 Israeli legislative election.<ref>Nati Tucker (October 29, 2012). [https://www.themarker.com/advertising/2012-10-29/ty-article/0000017f-e0c2-d568-ad7f-f3ebc5c80000 After working with Meretz, Ilon Zarmon will lead Rabbi Amsalem’s campaign]. TheMarker.</ref>
His persona was featured in the TV comedy "Hakol Dvash", in which the advertiser Ron Harmon, played by Rami Heuberger, tells Yael Poliakov in a familiar bass voice and graphic detail what he will do to her, ending with "Get visual." <ref name=" Gabi Bar-Haim">Gabi Bar-Haim (July 10, 2025). [https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/yokra14424203 "When all the breasts are out, it's no longer interesting. Provocations have become something very overt."] Yedioth Ahronoth.</ref> In July 2025, he participated together with his daughter Dana Zarmon, an Influencer, in the sixth season of the show "HaMitbakh HaMenatzeiakh VIP" (the Israeli version of the show My Kitchen Rules).<ref>(June 27, 2025). [https://www.mako.co.il/tvbee-tv-news/Article-52bb8f23091b791027.htm Dana Zarmon shares: "Experiencing the chaos and sadness that everyone experiences."] Channel 12 (Israel).</ref>
==Personal life== Elon Zarmon lives in Tel Aviv. He is divorced from the designer and painter Drorit Barzilai, the partner of actor Guy Loel, is in a second relationship, and is the father of three daughters.<ref>Maya Guez. [https://www.magazina-il.com/danazarmon Setting the standard]. magazina-il.</ref> In 2010, he released "Organism", an album in which he sang songs whose lyrics he wrote.<ref>(May 5, 2011). [https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/music/2011-05-05/ty-article/0000017f-f867-ddde-abff-fc670ec70000 A new song by Eilon Zarmon: from the advertising agency to a debut album]. Ha'ir.</ref> In 2025, he published "The Blue Mountains", a children's book.<ref name=" Gabi Bar-Haim"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Eilon Zarmon}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Zarmon, Eilon}} Category:Living people Category:1964 births Category:Participants in Israeli reality television series Category:Businesspeople from Jerusalem Category:People from Tel Aviv Category:Israeli advertising executives Category:Businesspeople from Tel Aviv Category:Angel investors Category:Israeli businesspeople Category:Israeli classical clarinetists Category:Israeli musicians