ˈɛkmə wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti baɪ dˈʌbəljˌuː.bˈiː. lˈɪɾɛl, hˌuː wˈɜːkt fɚðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk sˈɪɾi ˈædvɚtˌaɪzɪŋ fˈɜːm lˈɪɾɛlmˈɜːɹeɪbˈɑːɹnhɪl.
ECMA was founded in 1920 by W.B. Littell, who worked for the New York City advertising firm Littell-Murray-Barnhill.