Carly Avener, Leo Burnett

Carly joined Leo Burnett as Managing Director in October 2019. Over the last year, she has helped bring in new business from Premier Inn and Vision Express and driven positive growth from the agency’s existing clients including AXA, McDonald’s, McCormick and Kellogg’s.

Carly has also spearheaded the agency’s diversity initiatives with the launch of the Anti-Racism Collective (ARC) - a series of initiatives designed to help stamp out systemic racism in the advertising industry through systemic changes to internal processes and policies, with a goal to advance racial equality and promote anti-racism. Carly is also behind the evolution of the “More Good days At Work” wellness strategy to develop a forum for employees to discuss the factors that are creating stress in their life under lockdown.

Carly has also been leading teams in creating the best working environment, despite remote working pressure, to allow Leo Burnett get back to what it does best – creating populist work that moves the nation.

In 2020, Carly established partnerships with the Creative Mentor network and We Rise to support underrepresented communities as well as training Leo Burnett staff on how to create an inclusive and supportive culture and working environment for people from all backgrounds.

She has also led the creation of the LeOOO Burnett Interactive map where people can check in with other Leo Burnett-ers who are close to them, if they are feeling lonely or isolated while working during lockdown.