Ad Age's Ann-Christine Diaz joins McCann Worldgroup as global director of creative excellence

Ad Age’s longtime Creativity Editor Ann-Christine Diaz is leaving to join McCann Worldgroup as senior VP-global director of creative excellence at the Interpublic Group of Cos.’ agency.

Diaz will be charged with supporting McCann Worldgroup’s global creative community across all of its networks, regions and agencies, according to the agency. “Diaz will leverage her deep experience and insight evaluating creative work and examining important issues that impact the industry to ensure creative excellence continues to be integral to all facets of McCann Worldgroup, from the work, to talent, DEI and more,” McCann shared in a statement.

Diaz, a 20-year veteran at Ad Age, has exhaustively covered advertising and marketing creativity for the publication and is a fixture on the advertising circuit at the Cannes Lions and other ad events. She is also the architect of Ad Age’s prestigious Creativity Awards and has been integral to the management and judging of the Ad Age Agency A-List.

“Ann will be deeply missed,” said Ad Age President and Editor-in-Chief Dan Peres. “Not only does she know everyone in this business, she is an outstanding journalist, trend spotter and culture vulture. She lives and breathes creativity and has brought us, and our audience, two decades of innovations and fresh thinking.”

“To anyone who loves advertising creativity, Ann-Christine hardly needs an introduction,” said John Mescall, McCann Worldgroup’s global creative council president. “Her passion for, and knowledge of, the work is incredible. But that’s just a part of what makes her special. She’s just as passionate about the people who make the work. And about how great work gets made, and what kind of conditions need to exist in order for us to be at our creative best.”

Diaz, who will report to Alex Lopez, McCann Worldgroup's president and global chief creative officer, begins her new post on Oct. 10.

“Until now, I’ve been a bit of an outsider looking in, so I’m humbled and incredibly excited to be invited in at McCann Worldgroup," said Diaz. “It’s home to people I deeply respect and ideas that have re-imagined what advertising can be.”