225 years of Tar Heels: Susan Credle

Editor’s note: In honor of the University’s 225^th anniversary, we will be sharing profiles throughout the academic year of some of the many Tar Heels who have left their heelprint on the campus, their communities, the state, the nation and the world.

If you’ve ever seen one of the iconic “human” M&M commercials or one of Allstate’s “Mr. Mayhem” commercials, you’ve seen some of Susan Credle’s work.

Credle, a 1985 graduate of the School of Media and Journalism, is the global chief creative officer at FCB Global, a marketing communications agency that provides work in 80 countries.

Prior to working for FCB, Credle spent 24 years working for advertising agency BBDO and six years working for Leo Burnett Worldwide, another advertising agency. From her time as an intern at BBDO to becoming one of the industry’s leading creative thinkers, Credle has helped create award-winning ads for brands such as Bank of America, FedEx, Lowe’s, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut and Visa.

Credle was the first recipient of the MJ-school’s Next Generation Leadership Award in 2008 and was inducted into the NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014. She currently serves on the MJ-school Board of Advisers and was the MJ-school’s Spring Commencement speaker earlier this year.

“When it comes to others, be generous with whom you call a friend,” Credle told the graduates. “I spent the first part of my life surrounding myself with people who looked and acted more like me, people who thought like me, and we shared similar backgrounds and ambitions. Quite frankly, it was comfortable. I will tell you, the more diverse your friendships are, the more enriching your life becomes.”

Credle’s voice has become an integral part of female representation in the creative industry. Some of her notable achievements include being named one of Advertising Age’s 100 Most Influential Women in Advertising and one of Business Insider’s Most Creative Women in Advertising.