AKQA Promotes Shu Hung and Johnny Budden to Chief Creative Officers

A focus on mentorship and retention

Budden said that fostering a culture of mentorship is important at the agency for retention and career growth.

“[We will] continue to foster an environment where everyone feels they can bring their whole self to work, and where our differences are celebrated,” said Budden.

AKQA has many employee resource groups and other ways to celebrate diversity, but as CCOs, Ahmed said that each must inspire their teams and accept many diverse points of view in the work.

“A key responsibility for the chief creative officer is the cultivation of a diverse and inclusive creative culture,” said Ahmed.

Fostering an inclusive environment allows AKQA to influence culture, thanks to the new voices the agency encourages to come forward. That means the role of the CCO extends beyond the oversight of projects to strategic leadership, mentorship and inspiration to push the boundaries of creativity.

“We believe when you pour an insatiable amount of care into something, you can feel it as part of the human condition, you can sense care,” said Budden.