SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoDaddy, the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses, has a new member of the team and his first order of business is to help bring puppy “love” to customers and employees as needed. Buddy, GoDaddy’s Super Bowl puppy, is taking a C-suite role as the company’s Chief Companion Officer starting today. This means he’s putting his 'off-the-chart' cute-factor to work even before the new Super Bowl commercial airs.
In case you missed the wave of news reports, Buddy is the adorable golden retriever cast in the starring role of this year’s GoDaddy Super Bowl commercial. He was given the name “Buddy” after thousands of people offered suggestions via social media.
Last month, Buddy wrapped his first Hollywood-style commercial shoot in California, shooting one of his most critical scenes with GoDaddy spokeswoman and NASCAR superstar Danica Patrick. While working on-set, GoDaddy team members fell in love with the puppy and started rallying support to adopt the adorable canine.
“As our Chief Companion Officer, Buddy will be interacting with customers, mostly small business owners who are looking for relaxation and a reprieve from their hectic workday,” said GoDaddy Chief Marketing Officer Barb Rechterman, who was on-set for Buddy’s two-day commercial shoot. “We’re already booking time with customers ... and our own employees are lining up to meet the little guy. All you have to do is look at him and ‘bam,’ your stress level goes down and your mood goes up. It’s a proven scientific fact.”
Many small business owners turn to social media during the work day for a break and some quick online entertainment, which is where Buddy and the GoDaddy social media team can contribute with fun photos, short videos and his own Twitter account, @GoDaddyBuddy.
GoDaddy already has an established Pet Therapy program at three of its Arizona facilities, with help from a mixed-breed rescue dog named Ox. The company is also extending its employee volunteer program to include work shifts at animal shelters located in GoDaddy communities across the country.
Buddy, who has grown significantly since the commercial shoot, has his own office inside GoDaddy’s corporate headquarters in Scottsdale. His office features a doggy door and a desk equipped with food and water dishes. He’ll do some traveling and community outreach. He’ll spend nights and weekends with a GoDaddy employee who volunteered to make Buddy part of his own family.
As for the commercial, Buddy performed very well under a bit of pressure on-location when an early December weather disturbance, referenced as the “storm of the century,” blew into Los Angeles after the first day of shooting. Buddy had a full complement of caretakers and trainers at his side, along with a veterinarian. He gave the director his full attention on-camera for the commercial, trotting in a ravine, walking a narrow wooden bridge and riding out a (fake) lightning storm.
The Super Bowl ad, created by Barton F. Graf, is called “Journey Home” and reflects the journey of many small business owners who have to be tenacious to triumph. “We’re not revealing plot specifics just yet, but I can tell you the commercial will be unpredictable and twists Super Bowl advertising convention in a way that speaks to how GoDaddy helps make business owners’ lives better by way of easy-to-use technology,” Rechterman said.
Danica Patrick has been in more Super Bowl ads than any celebrity in history, (all with GoDaddy) but had never worked with an animal. Like her sponsor, Danica fell in love with Buddy within the first few seconds of meeting him. She was seen on-set playing with Buddy, carefully holding him for publicity photos and even uttering some ‘baby talk’ with him. “He’s totally irresistible,” Danica said. “I’m looking forward to Dallas (Danica’s dog) having her first play date with Buddy. I am quite sure they’ll have fun together.”
Look for Buddy on Twitter at @GoDaddyBuddy.
For a photo of GoDaddy’s Super Bowl “celebrities,” click:
Link to high-res photo - Buddy
Link to high-res photo Buddy and Danica
Link to low-res photo Buddy and Danica
Link to rendering of Buddy’s CCO office
Link to rendering of Buddy's office door
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GoDaddy's vision is to radically shift the global economy toward small business by empowering people to easily start, confidently grow and successfully run their own ventures. With more than 12 million customers worldwide and more than 58 million domain names under management, GoDaddy gives small business owners the tools to name their idea, build a beautiful online presence, attract customers and manage their business. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.