Nicole Brandell Joins FCB as Chief Strategy Officer of Chicago

FCB today announced that Nicole Brandell has been brought on board as chief strategy officer (CSO) of FCB Chicago. As the CSO, Nicole will partner closely with Kelly Graves, FCB Chicago president, and Andrés Ordóñez, FCB Chicago chief creative officer, to drive the strategic vision for the agency, deliver world-class creative work across over 30 brands, and cultivate a culture designed to support the growth and development of top talent in the creative industry. 

“Nicole is one of the most trusted strategic leaders in the business,” said Kelly. “Her ability to drive simple and inspiring narratives for some of the greatest brands in the world is truly impressive, and her passion for the creative work and the role that strategy plays in this work is unique. Andrés and I are thrilled to welcome Nicole to FCB Chicago and look forward to working with her to shape the future of the agency."

Nicole believes that clients need big, bold creative platforms that engage their customers in hyper-relevant and innovative ways: “FCB Chicago continues to step up their game creatively. The success and momentum of the agency is contagious. I believe FCB will set a new standard for the industry as they deliver business-building creative in a more nimble and responsive manner. The agency’s commitment to building a more diverse workforce also greatly appealed to me, and I plan to help make it a reality.” 

Nicole spent 20 years in the advertising industry, including roles at Wieden+Kennedy and Leo Burnett, transforming the way brands like Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Nintendo and Starbucks build relationships with their customers. She spent the last two years at consulting agency Material+, where she developed the strategic vision for the company and provided clients with streamlined expertise - from data and analytics to brand marketing, customer experience and digital innovation.