Susie Nam has been appointed CEO of Publicis Creative US. In this role, Nam will apply her creative leadership talent to driving all operations and excellence for Publicis’ agency brands, including Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Fallon, BBH, Team One, The Community and Turner Duckworth. Nam will report to Publicis Groupe chief strategy officer Carla Serrano.
Most recently CEO of the Americas for Droga5, Nam is lauded for her ability to design agency systems and cultures that yield breakthrough ideas and best-in-class talent. With leadership roles spanning account management, chief operating officer and ultimately CEO, Nam was instrumental during her 14-year tenure with Droga5 in driving its growth and notoriety from a 35-employee team, to an industry-leading brand spanning the NYC flagship office and four global hubs. Nam began her career in publishing, as a journalist at George magazine, before serving as features editor for The New York Times’ very first online edition. She studied at the London School of Economics, and practiced as an urban planner in England, before returning to the U.S. and turning her talents to advertising at Fallon, before ultimately joining Droga5 in 2009.
A Korean-American executive, Nam is also widely known for her ongoing advocacy and leadership for diversity, equality and inclusion across communities. She currently serves as the chair of the ADCOLOR Board of Directors, the organization celebrating and promoting professionals of color in the creative industries. Nam is an Aspen Institute First Movers Fellow, was recognized among The Ad Club’s 2023 Innovators, and was recently honored with the Impact Award by the Asian American Federation.
“I’m looking forward to this next chapter–especially excited to be an advocate for the power and impact that creativity can and should have in this climate,” said Nam. “While there is incredible innovation and connectivity that sets rich circumstances for good work, the essential ingredient remains best in class creativity. I hope to help all the agencies and their leadership toward this ambition.”
Serrano added, “Susie’s last role focused on finding that bridge between creativity, data, technology and consultancy. Her new position at Publicis allows her to fulfill this vision in practice, and tremendous opportunity lies ahead for our clients, our agency brands and our talent.”
Nam replaces Andrew Swinand, who is leaving the organization in the spring to pursue other opportunities.
Music Biopics Get Creative At Toronto Film Festival
Many of the expected conventions of music biopics are present in "Piece by Piece," about the producer-turned-pop star Pharrell Williams, and "Better Man," about the British singer Robbie Williams. There's the young artist's urge to break through, fallow creative periods and regrettable chapters of fame-addled excess. But there are a few, little differences. In "Piece by Piece," Pharrell is a Lego. And in "Better Man," Williams is played by a CGI monkey. If the music biopic can sometimes feel a little stale in format, these two movies, both premiering this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, attempt novel remixes. In each film, each Williams recounts his life story as a narrator. But their on-screen selves aren't movie stars who studied to get a part just right, but computer-generated animations living out real superstar fantasies. While neither Williams has much in common as a musician, neither has had a very traditional career. Their films became reflections of their individuality, and, maybe, a way to distinguish themselves in the crowded field of music biopics like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Rocketman." "This is about being who you are, even if it's not something that can be put in a box," Pharrell said in an interview Tuesday alongside director Morgan Neville. Also next to Pharrell: A two-foot-tall Lego sculpture of himself, which was later in the day brought to the film's premiere and given its own seat in the crowd. The experience watching the crowd-pleasing "Piece by Piece," which Focus Features will release Oct. 11, can be pleasantly discombobulating. A wide spectrum of things you never expected to see in Lego form are animated. Virginia Beach (where Pharrell grew up). An album of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life."... Read More