Media and publishing
10 advertising executives
These ten advertising executives hold or have held CEO, president or other C-suite titles at advertising companies and agencies. A reader can learn how agency leaders run their businesses, win and keep clients and organize creative, media and strategy teams.
Professionals to explore
01—10Ajit Varghese
LinkedInExperience: Partner and CEO · Madison World
Partner and CEO of Madison World since 2025 and former COO there (1999–2006); the profile describes Madison World as an advertising services company and a media agency offering media planning and buying. Other listed roles are EVP - Disney, Network Ad Sales Head CRO Jiostar - Entertainment & International at The Walt Disney Company (2023–2025), Chief Commercial Officer at ShareChat (2020–2022) and Global President, Wavemaker at WPP (2017–2020).
Cedar Hames
LinkedInExperience: President & Chief Strategy Officer · Paradise Advertising & Marketing
President & Chief Strategy Officer at Paradise Advertising & Marketing since 2003; the profile headline reads President at Paradise Advertising, Digital & Entertainment. The profile says Cedar was recently honored by HSMAI as one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in the Travel and Hospitality Industry Worldwide.
Kristen Cavallo
LinkedInExperience: Chief Executive Officer · MARTIN*
Chief Executive Officer of MARTIN* since 2026; the profile describes MARTIN* as an advertising services company and The Martin Agency as a marketing agency. Former Global CEO MullenLowe Group at MullenLowe Global (2022–2024) and IPG Consultant at Interpublic Group (IPG) (2024–2025); the profile also lists Artistic Director at The Branch Museum of Design since 2026 and Executive Director there (2025–2026).
Leslie Wingo
LinkedInExperience: President & CEO · Sanders\Wingo
President & CEO of Sanders\Wingo since 2015 and former Managing Director there (2001–2015); the profile headline names advertising as the field, and the profile describes Sanders\Wingo as a Texas-based independent creative agency. The profile also lists Public Speaker DEI B Strategist at Chitlin & Menudo Circuit, LLC since 2019, Board Chair at Behavioral Science Lab since 2016 and Guest Lecturer and Panelist at The University of Texas at Austin (2014–2019).
Maggie Malek
LinkedInExperience: Chief Executive Officer · Crispin
Chief Executive Officer of Crispin since 2024 and former President there (2023–2024); the profile describes Crispin as one of the most awarded advertising agencies in history. Former Chief Executive Officer (2019–2024), Senior Vice President, Strategy (2018–2019) and Vice President, Product & Performance (2017–2018) at MMI Agency.
Nancy Steiner
LinkedInExperience: CEO · DAA Media + Marketing
CEO of DAA Media + Marketing since 2023 and former Vice President, Account Services there (2013–2023); the profile also lists a From Intern to Media Buyer to Media Director role at DAA Media + Marketing (1989–2013). The profile describes a journey in advertising from intern to CEO, and the headline cites ADWEEK Fastest Growing Agency and Ad Age Best Places To Work.
Peter Bunarek
LinkedInExperience: Chief Executive Officer · BBDO Atlanta
Chief Executive Officer of BBDO Atlanta since 2017 and former EVP, Senior Director there (2006–2017); the profile describes BBDO Atlanta as an advertising agency in Atlanta. The profile also lists Board Member, 4As Southern Region at 4As since 2024, Board Chair, Atlanta Council Board of Governors at 4As since 2015 and Member at Legatus since 2026.
Stuart Payne
LinkedInExperience: President CEO - Member of the Saatchi & Saatchi Global Leadership Team · Saatchi & Saatchi Canada
President CEO - Member of the Saatchi & Saatchi Global Leadership Team at Saatchi & Saatchi Canada since 2007; the profile describes Saatchi & Saatchi as a global advertising network with 139 offices in 82 countries. Former Global Client Leader - Toyota Lexus at Publicis Groupe (2016–2020) and Director and Officer, Member of the Executive Committee at Toyota Canada Inc. (1989–2007).
Talia Raviv
LinkedInExperience: Global CEO Publicis Media · Publicis Media
Global CEO Publicis Media since 2023 and Global CEO PMX at Publicis Media since 2020; the profile describes Publicis Media as an advertising services company. Former President (2017–2019) and EVP, Managing Director (2014–2017) at Apex Exchange and SVP Digital Media Director at Zenith (2010–2014).
Tom Denari
LinkedInExperience: President & CEO · Young & Laramore
President & CEO of Young & Laramore since 2022; the profile describes Young & Laramore as a creatively-driven advertising agency based in Indianapolis. Other listed Young & Laramore roles are President & Chief Strategy Officer (2005–2021), Executive Vice President (1999–2005), Vice President, Director of Client Services (1996–2005) and Account Manager (1989–1996). The profile describes studying how emotional and non-rational influences affect consumers.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's agency type, such as a creative agency, a media agency or a global network, and its size to the question you need answered. Check whether their leadership role covers a single office, a regional unit or a global organization.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How should an advertising agency structure its teams to serve large clients across creative, media and data?
- 02What makes an agency win new business pitches, and what makes clients stay?
- 03How are agency leaders adapting pricing and staffing as clients bring more work in-house?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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