Publicis Creative Welcomes Renato Fernandez as New US Chief Creative Officer
In an ambitious move to further drive creative excellence within the industry, Publicis Creative US has announced the appointment of Renato Fernandez as the Chief Creative Officer. Assuming a pivotal role, Fernandez will spearhead the creative direction and elevate client impact across the esteemed US creative agencies network, including Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Fallon, Team One, BBH, and the community. Slated to commence his role on August 1st, Fernandez will be reporting to Susie Nam, the Chief Executive Officer of Publicis Creative US.
Susie Nam expressed her excitement about Fernandez joining the team, stating, “We are extremely excited to bring Renato on board. He brings with him the right combination of experience and hunger – he is always out to prove something and make something new. Our ambition is to take some big swings led by exceptional leaders and esteemed brands who together believe in the powerful impact creativity can have on business results.”
Fernandez joins Publicis with a rich, almost three-decade-long career, marked by culture-shifting work for global entities such as Gatorade, The Grammys, Levi’s, Volkswagen, Airbnb, Visa, Adidas, and Pepsi. Most recently holding the mantle of Chief Creative Officer at TBWA/Chiat/Day, Fernandez has been instrumental in rejuvenating the creative department, integrating social media, design, and innovation into the fabric of their work. Initially kickstarting his career as a cartoonist in Curitiba, Brazil, Fernandez has continually strived for innovative storytelling, a journey that has taken him through significant positions at Exclam and Master. Notably, he was part of the pioneering group of creatives from his city to gain international acclaim. His subsequent tenure at Almap/BBDO in São Paulo was marked by notable success, contributing to the agency’s back-to-back wins as Agency of the Year at The Clio Awards and at The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
A recipient of numerous accolades, Fernandez’s work has garnered recognition at prestigious forums such as The One Show, Clios, Cannes Lions, London International Awards, and D&AD. Moreover, his expertise and visionary outlook have seen him serve as a jury member at Cannes Lions, The One Show, and The Clios.
Reflecting on his new role, Fernandez shared, “Publicis has a reputation for pushing the industry forward. Seizing the opportunity to set the creative bar to new standards, modernising the creative output and helping the agencies from the group reach their full potential strategy is an exciting prospect to me and it reflects the organisation’s commitment to leading the industry’s evolution.”
Renato Fernandez’s appointment marks a significant addition to the Publicis Creative US team, closely following the appointment of Susie Nam as CEO last year. The creative powerhouse has also recently welcomed Gareth Goodall as the chief strategy officer, alongside promoting Nicole Souza to the role of chief marketing officer, illustrating Publicis Creative US’s commitment to innovating and leading the creative industry into a new era.
As Publicis Creative sets its sights on harnessing Fernandez’s visionary approach to storytelling and innovation, it is clear that the firm is poised to redefine creative standards not just within the United States but across the global stage, reinforcing its position as an industry leader committed to driving tangible business results through creativity.
