Dentsu Creative is adding some serious creative firepower to its U.S. leadership team, naming Michael Aimette Chief Creative Officer. The appointment brings one of advertising’s most decorated creative executives to the agency as it looks to accelerate growth, strengthen its creative offering and further connect creativity with media, data and technology.
Based in New York, Aimette will oversee Dentsu Creative’s U.S. creative department, working closely with Phil Gaughran, CEO of Dentsu Creative Americas, and the broader leadership team. His mandate includes elevating the agency’s creative output, developing talent and translating ambitious ideas into measurable business results for clients.
“We’re at a moment when creativity matters more than ever,” said Gaughran. “Clients are navigating extraordinary complexity, but they’re also looking for partners who can help them move faster, earn relevance, and drive growth. Michael is the kind of leader who knows how to turn creative ambition into brand and business impact. His track record speaks for itself, but what excites me most is his ability to inspire people, unlock catalyzing ideas, and help clients create enduring competitive advantage.”
Aimette arrives with more than 20 years of experience building and leading acclaimed creative teams. Most recently, he served as Chief Creative Officer of BBDO New York, following a successful tenure in the same role at FCB New York. Under his creative leadership, the agencies collected major industry honors, including Agency of the Year recognition at The One Show, Clios, ADC and Campaign, along with Craft Agency of the Year at Cannes Lions.
His individual accolades are equally impressive. Aimette was ranked the world’s fourth most-awarded CCO by The Drum in 2026 and the top CCO in the United States by The One Club.
His portfolio includes some of advertising’s most recognized campaigns, from Budweiser’s back-to-back USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter victories to Spotify’s groundbreaking Spreadbeats, which earned a coveted D&AD Black Pencil. He also helped lead Michelob ULTRA’s remarkable five-year run at The One Show, which resulted in a prestigious Penta Pencil.
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Beyond the awards, Aimette has played a significant role in major new business wins and creative assignments for brands including Pringles, Hyundai, the Gates Foundation and Intuit. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for developing creative talent and building collaborative cultures that produce consistently celebrated work.
For Aimette, the opportunity at Dentsu Creative is as much about building something new as it is about continuing an established creative legacy.
“The thing that gets me most excited is the chance to build. To bring great people together, create something special and have a ton of fun doing it. And that’s what drew me to Dentsu Creative,” said Aimette. “There’s just an incredible amount of talent, a legacy of outstanding creative work globally and a whole range of capabilities that open up some really exciting possibilities. Now the fun part is bringing it all together — making creativity everybody’s business and creating the kind of work people can’t possibly ignore. I can’t wait to get going.”
The leadership move comes amid a period of new business momentum for Dentsu Creative. Recent wins include creative agency-of-record assignments for i-Health, a DSM-Firmenich company whose brands include AZO, Culturelle and Estroven, as well as Farmers Insurance. The agency has also secured a social agency-of-record relationship with Waterloo Sparkling Water, alongside additional organic growth and project-based assignments.
With Aimette now steering its U.S. creative vision, Dentsu Creative is betting that the combination of world-class craft, integrated capabilities and a strong creative culture will help distinguish the agency in an increasingly competitive landscape.
And for an executive who has already helped shape two of New York’s most celebrated creative shops, the next chapter offers another opportunity to build something worth talking about.
REEL 360 News wishes Michael the best of luck in his new role.
