PARIS, FRANCE – The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that it will honour Susan Credle with its lifetime achievement award, the Lion of St Mark. The award recognises Credle’s remarkable career and contribution to the industry that started with an internship at BBDO New York and has spanned more than 40 years.
Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “Susan Credle is a trailblazer and a creative force. Throughout her career she has consistently built cultures where creativity thrives, producing iconic work while shaping the values, standards and conditions for success. Cannes Lions has had the privilege of witnessing Susan’s brilliance many times. She has served on our Juries eight times, three of those as Jury President, including Titanium, and her influence on the work itself is undeniable. She understands deeply that creativity is more than a driver of progress; it is an economic multiplier. Beyond the iconic campaigns, Susan has been a generous mentor to leaders, peers and generations of creatives, and a tireless advocate for inclusion and the next wave of talent. Her contribution to the industry is significant, passionate and generous, and we are honoured to recognise Susan with the Lion of St Mark. We look forward to celebrating her extraordinary legacy in Cannes.”
Over the years, Credle has been behind award-winning work across a breadth of brands. In 1996, she and her art director partner, Steve Rutter, launched the comedic ensemble of M&M’s characters that kickstarted her inexorable rise to the top of the industry. She’s helped guide work like Allstate’s Mayhem, Secret Deodorant’s grassroots Mean Stinks anti-bullying, and McDonald’s Happy Meal literacy campaigns.
About the Award, Susan Credle, Interpublic Global Creative Advisor, said: “When I walked into the lobby of BBDO on Madison Avenue in the summer of 1985, I saw a poster celebrating Pepsi’s Cannes Lions Grand Prix-winning ‘Archaeology’, directed by Joe Pytka. The Jury that honored that work set the bar for what great advertising could be. It was provocative and beautifully crafted and showed real respect for the audience. More importantly, it launched something much bigger – the ‘Choice of a New Generation’ platform that took the Cola Wars to another level. That Cannes Lions Award taught me something I’ve carried with me ever since: the best ideas don’t just succeed in the moment – they strive to be NVRFNSHD.”
Across three of the industry’s most storied agencies – BBDO, Leo Burnett, and FCB – Credle’s work has been notable, not just for the headlines or awards but for the vision it carried, the possibilities it inspired and the values it left behind. During her tenure as Global Chief Creative Officer, FCB North America was named the Cannes Lions North America Agency of the Year for six consecutive years, while FCB was honoured with the coveted title of Global Network of the Year at Cannes Lions in 2020/21, and the network was also ranked the #1 Creative Agency for Effectiveness in the WARC Effective 100 in 2023.
Susan Credle will be honoured with the Lion of St Mark at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She will also speak onstage in the Lion of St Mark seminar, taking place on Monday 22 June. Cannes Lions runs from 22 to 26 June, in Cannes, France. Further information on entering the Awards and options to attend can be found at www.canneslions.com.
