NEW YORK, USA — The One Club for Creativity, the leading global nonprofit dedicated to supporting and celebrating the creative community, has announced the addition of three prominent industry leaders to its Board of Directors.
Elected by The One Club membership to serve two-year terms are Aaron Starkman, Global CCO at Rethink in Toronto, and Xanthe Wells, VP, Global Creative at Pinterest in San Francisco. Returning for a second term is Greg Hahn, Co-founder and CCO at Mischief USA, based in Brooklyn.
The newly appointed directors will play a critical role in shaping the direction of The One Club. Their responsibilities include providing strategic guidance on professional development, education, and diversity initiatives, building stronger connections with advertising and design schools, and nominating leading creatives to serve as jurors for The One Show and ADC Annual Awards.
For Wells, joining the Board represents a chance to foster unity across the creative spectrum. “We’re often defined by which side of the industry we come from, but The One Club demonstrates that true progress is only possible when we stand on the side of creativity. I hope my role on the Board helps further blur the lines between brand-side and agency-side, inspiring us all to lead this era of technological transformation with a unified voice, championing diversity, equity, inclusion and integrity at every turn.”
Starkman reflected on the personal significance of his appointment. “As a student, The One Show annual was my gold standard—I studied those pages on the subway, dreaming of one day making it in. To now be invited onto The One Club Board, made up of so many people I admire, is an honor beyond anything I could have imagined. The One Club has always stood for creativity, community, and integrity—and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
Hahn, returning to the Board, emphasized the organization’s role in navigating industry transformation. “The industry is going through such radical change at the moment. The One Club has always been a strong force in leading and guiding the industry through changes. There’s never been a more exciting and important moment to be part of the conversation.”
The trio of new Board members replaces Kaite Allen, Global Head of Marcom Marketing at Airbnb; Philippe Meunier, Co-founder, CCO at Sid Lee; and Leslie Sims, former Chief Marketing and Creative Officer at Impossible Foods, who completed their terms of service.
“On behalf of the club, I want to thank Leslie and Philippe for their decade of service to the Board, always pushing us in the right direction and keeping us focused on supporting the creative community,” said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club. “We wish Katie well in her new top marketing position at Airbnb, which made it difficult for her to continue on the Board. We’re excited that Xanthe, Aaron and Greg have accepted their new positions, and look forward to their insights and input to move the clubforward.”
The One Club for Creativity is home to The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE), ONE Asia Awards, Type Directors Club competitions, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns, Young Ones Student Awards, Next Creative Leaders, ONE Screen Short Film Festival, and more. Revenue generated from its global award shows directly funds programming under its four key pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development.
