The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced that creative luminary Susan Credle is this year’s recipient of its lifetime achievement award, the Lion of St. Mark.  

The award recognizes Credle's illustrious career and contribution to the industry that started with an internship at Omnicom’s BBDO New York and has spanned more than 40 years. 

She spent 24 years at BBDO, lastly as executive vice president/executive creative director, before moving to Leo Burnett as Chief Creative Officer for close to six years. She spent nearly another decade at FCB, primarily as Global Chief Creative Officer. For the last two years she has been a global creative advisor at Interpublic.  

In 1996, she and her art director partner, Steve Rutter, launched the comedic ensemble of M&M’s characters that are front and center of the iconic candy’s branding and advertising.  She’s helped guide work like Allstate’s Mayhem, Secret Deodorant’s grassroots Mean Stinks anti-bullying, and McDonald’s Happy Meal literacy campaigns 
 
“Beyond the iconic campaigns, Susan has been a generous mentor to leaders, peers and generations of creatives, and a tireless advocate for inclusion and the next wave of talent,” stated Simon Cook, CEO, Lions. “Her contribution to the industry is significant, passionate and generous.” 

She will speak onstage at the Lion of St. Mark seminar Monday 22 June, during the festival.