Leslie Barrett, managing partner of Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), will become the next president of the advertising agency, only the third person to hold the post over the past 30 years.  

“Leslie is an aggressive business builder, a master negotiator, a champion of innovation and a leader dedicated to employee well-being who thrives on making work that drives true business impact,” said Jeff Goodby, co-founder and co-chairman of GS&P. “She is the perfect leader to take GS&P forward.”

Barrett ascends within a partner group that is 62 percent women. Since the new partnership was put in place in 2016, the agency has thrived.  

“Leslie is a strong leader who sets a clear direction, believes creativity can solve any problem and creates momentum for the business,” said Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer of GS&P. “She takes a human approach and nurtures trust and collaboration within her teams and loyalty with her clients. I am thrilled to partner with her in leading the agency.”

Rich Silverstein, co-founder and co-chairman, GS&P, added, “I don’t think there’s anyone who better understands what the company is and where we want to take it. In advertising you can’t sit still and rest on your laurels. You have to constantly evolve, and she’s the person to help us do that.”

Barrett has been instrumental in agency growth and momentum, running many of GS&P’s largest and most pivotal clients. With a client retention rate of 100% since 2014, she has fueled the agency’s average client tenure of seven years. Barrett has also demonstrated a strong record of pitchless business wins over the years, which most recently includes Comcast Business, Idorsia, Califia Farms, One Medical, Oura, Lidl and BIC razors. 

“I look forward to continuing the culture of humanity and diversity that we are famous for while using our creativity to solve client problems in innovative ways amid today’s transformative business climate,” said Barrett. “The opportunity is to ensure the agency reacts to vast changes in media types and technologies and leverages them to offer solutions that are unique in the industry.”

Over the past few years, Barrett has welcomed back boomerang clients such as HP and Truly. She is known for establishing deep relationships and has worked with clients such as Doug Sweeny, the CMO of Oura, multiple times.

“Leslie and I have worked together three times on vastly different brands over 12 years--at Nest and most recently at One Medical and Oura,” said Sweeny. “She has the innate ability to solve problems quickly, to challenge and rally clients while earning their respect.”

Barrett takes over the role from Derek Robson, a 17-year GS&P veteran who departed the agency in December 2022 to become CEO of IDEO.