Effie Awards US has named the industry notables who will serve on its 2026 Grand Jury. The group of senior marketing and creative leaders will select the recipient of the Grand Effie–the program’s highest honor, awarded to the single most effective marketing effort in the United States.
Effie Awards celebrate work that works–recognizing marketing efforts that not only capture attention, but also deliver meaningful business impact. The Grand Effie represents the highest expression of this standard, recognizing work that best demonstrates the power of strategic thinking, creative execution and measurable results.
The Grand Jury will convene this month in New York, where they will review and deliberate over this year’s most effective work, to determine the Grand Effie recipient. Together, this cross-disciplinary jury reflects the breadth of expertise across brands, agencies, and strategy, bringing a rigorous, real-world lens to the judging process.
The 2026 Effie Awards US Grand Jury includes:
–Craig Allen, founder & chief creative officer, Callen
–Vallerie Bettini, chief client officer, Arnold Worldwide
–Claudine Cheever, chief marketing officer, Pinterest
–Nicolas Chidiac, chief strategy officer, Razorfish
–Nick Hammitt, chief marketing officer, Newell Brands
–Thomas A. Harris, co-founder/chief brand officer, 11 Ounces
–Alvaro Luque, CEO & founder, Avocados From Mexico
–Kory Marchisotto, president, e.l.f. Beauty
–Erica Roberts, chief creative officer, BBH USA
–Rich Santiago, chief strategy officer, 72andSunny
–Julie Scelzo, global chief creative officer for global accounts, Dentsu Creative
–Jinal Shah, chief marketing officer, Zip
–Tim Smith, founder, Chemistry
“Effectiveness isn’t an outcome, it is a day-to-day orientation,” said Traci Alford, global CEO of Effie Worldwide. “And the Grand Effie isn’t just recognition, it is proof that your work delivered real business results. It honors the teams who apply that discipline end-to-end, delivering work that stands up to the highest level of scrutiny. This year’s Grand Jury brings exceptional depth of experience, and their collective perspective ensures the work is challenged, debated, and ultimately recognized as the highest possible standard.”
The Grand Effie winner will be announced at the 2026 Effie Awards US Gala on May 27 at Cipriani South Street.
