NEW YORK, USA // Susan Credle’s creative career in advertising has been focused on a quest to lift people up and infuse the industry with diversity and best-in-class creative. Across three of the industry’s most storied agencies — BBDO, Leo Burnett, and FCB — Susan’s work has been remarkable, not just for the headlines or awards but for the vision it carried, the possibilities it inspired and the values it left behind. She set a standard others aspire to, and one the next generation will no doubt raise, grounded in the belief that the best work and leaders leave something behind for others to build upon.
Upon arriving at FCB in 2016 as Global Chief Creative Officer, Susan reignited the creative fire within the network by creating a culture of generosity and a single-minded focus that led to strong creative outcomes. She believes that great creative is an economic multiplier for talent, agencies, and clients. During her tenure as Global CCO, FCB North America was named the Cannes Lions North America Agency of The Year from 2019 through 2024. FCB was honored with the coveted title of Global Network of The Year at Cannes in 2020/21. FCB New York took the stage as Agency of the Year at the Clio Awards in 2023 and brought home Emmy Awards in 2023 and 2024. The network was also ranked the #1 Creative Agency for Effectiveness in the WARC Effective 100 in 2023, listed on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Agencies in 2022, named Adweek’s 2020 Global Agency of the Year, and ranked the #1 Global Network on The Good Report in 2020. FCB was named Network of the Year in The One Club Global rankings in 2023 and 2024.
Prior to joining FCB, Credle spent over six years as CCO at Leo Burnett, Chicago, helping guide work like Allstate’s Mayhem, Secret Deodorant’s grass roots Mean Stinks anti-bullying, and McDonald’s Happy Meal literacy campaigns. She began her career at BBDO New York when she joined in 1985 as an “intern.” She and her AD partner, Steve Rutter, launched the comedic ensemble of M&Ms characters in 1996 which kickstarted her inexorable rise to the top of the industry.
Susan has served on and led juries for the likes of Cannes Lions, The One Show, D&AD, The Clios, LIAs, ANDYs, AICP, The Lories, Spikes, Immortal, and Adfest Awards. Throughout her career, Susan has been recognized by numerous creative and leadership groups, including Ad Age’s “100 Most Influential Women,” and Business Insider’s “Most Creative Women in Advertising.” She was inducted into the AAF’s Hall of Achievement, named Chicago Woman of the Year, inducted into The NC Media and Journalism Hall of Fame, and was honored at the Matrix Awards. In 2018, Credle was named the Chair of the Board of Directors for The One Club for Creativity. And In 2024, she received The Clio Lifetime Achievement Award. In the fall of 2024, she was the guest of honor (denizen of disgrace) at the She Runs It roast.
In 2024, Credle took on the role of Interpublic Global Creative Advisor, bringing thirty years of creative experience to the table ensuring that creativity remains an important and respected economic multiplier in the marketing and advertising industry.