Matt Miller, President and CEO of AICP, presented Susan Credle, Global Creative Advisor, Omnicom with the AICP ADvocate Award on June 2, 2026 at the AICP Week Base Camp. In addition to receiving the honor, Credle served as Master of Ceremonies for the AICP Curators in Conversation series, and sat for a discussion with longtime collaborator and friend, Gerry Graf, Global Chief Creative Officer of Joan.
The ADvocate Award is presented to an industry leader who is not an AICP Member and works tirelessly for the interests of the industry . Credle is a long-time supporter of craft, creativity and AICP. In 2018 she served as the Judging Chair for the AICP Next Awards, and served as a Curator for the Next Awards five times. She holds a record for serving on the AICP Show Curatorial Committee at eight times.
Susan Credle ADvocate Award
In addition to her contributions to the AICP Awards, over her long career at agencies such as BBDO, Leo Burnett and FCB, Susan was a fierce advocate for the production and post community, ensuring that all understood the craft and valued those who do it at the highest levels with the best talent.
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. 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. In 2024, she 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.
Prior to joining FCB, Credle spent over six years as Chief Creative Officer 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 art director 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. Susan was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame in April 2026. She most recently received the Lion of St. Mark at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival.