Susan Credle, currently Global Creative Advisor at Interpublic, will receive the Lion of St. Mark at Cannes Lions 2026, which will take place between June 22 and 26 in Cannes, France. The organization will reward his creative career over more than four decades, as well as his contributions to the advertising industry.
The festival highlights his advertising work, as well as his role in building cultures in which creativity has thrived. They describe her as “a pioneer and a creative force”. “He deeply understands that creativity is more than an engine of progress; it is an economic multiplier.”“said Simon Cook, CEO of Lions, in a statement.
“His contribution to the industry is significant, passionate and generous”
The organization of the international festival also highlights that Credle has been part of the juries on up to eight occasions, three of them as jury president. “Susan has been a generous mentor to leaders, colleagues and generations of creatives, and a tireless advocate for inclusion and the next generation of talent. Your contribution to the industry is significant, passionate and generous.“Cook points out.
When talking about the recognition he will receive, Credle recalled the origins of his career. It brought to mind “Archaeology”, a 1985 Pepsi campaign that won a Grand Prize in that year’s contest and whose poster was displayed in the lobby of the BBDO agency on Madison Avenue when the creative joined the team.
“It was provocative, beautifully crafted and demonstrated true respect for the audience. And more importantly, it launched something much bigger: the ‘Choice of a New Generation’ platform, which took the soda war to another level“, he commented in a statement. “That Cannes Lions Award taught me something that I have carried with me ever since: the best ideas not only succeed in the moment, but strive to be NVRFNSHD”.
The latter is the acronym for “Never Finished”, a claim that identified the FCB agency for a time.
Some of Susan Credle’s creative work
Susan Credle began her career in the world of advertising in 1985 at BBDO New York and for almost 25 years in the team she held different positions: Copwriter, Creative Director and Executive Creative Director in the last stage.
Between 2009 and 2015 she served as Creative Director at Leo and then joined FCB Global, where she assumed the responsibilities of Global Creative Director first, and then Global President. Since January 2024 she has held the position of Global Creative Advisor at Interpublic.
Over the years, Credle has driven award-winning work for a variety of brands. In 1996, together with his partner and artistic director, Steve Rutter, he created the cast of M&M’s characters, around which the brand builds its communication today and have become one of the most recognizable brand mascots globally.
He also supervised Allstate’s popular “Mayhem”; “Mean Sticks” from the deodorant brand Secret; or those of McDonald’s Happy Meal, which educated children about the company’s ingredients and production processes.
Susan Credle will be awarded the Lion of St Mark at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on Friday 26 June.
Other winners of the Lion of Saint Mark in recent years have been:
- 2025: David Lubars, Executive Creative Director of BBDO Worldwide
- 2024: Jacques Séguéla, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Vice President of Havas
- 2023: Susan Hoffman, Chief Creative Officer of Wieden+Kennedy
- 2022: Colleen DeCourcy, Global Chief Creative Officer and Co-President of Wieden+Kennedy
- 2020-21: Mary Wells Lawrence, Founder of Wells Rich Greene
- 2019: Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein, Founders of Goodby Silverstein & Partners
- 2018: Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director of Ogilvy South Asia and Prasoon Pandey, Director of Corcoise Films
- 2017: David Droga, Founder and Creative Chairman of Droga5
- 2016: Marcello Serpa, AlmapBBDO Partner
- 2015: Bob Greenberg, Founder, Chairman and CEO of R/GA
- 2014: Joe Pytka, Director of PYTKA
- 2013: Lee Clow, Chairman of TBWAMedia Arts Lab, and Director of Media Arts, TBWAWorldwide
- 2012: Dan Wieden, Co-Founder and Global Executive Creative Director of Wieden+Kennedy
- 2011: Sir John Hegarty, Worldwide Creative Director and Founder of BBH
