Iris Worlwide has appointed Menno Kluin as global chief creative officer, following a series of recent senior creative hires, including Eduardo Maruri, former president and CEO of Grey Europe, who became global creative chair in June, and Katy Hopkins, who joined as executive creative director of Iris London last month.
Kluin was named US Creative Person of the Year by Campaign in 2022, and has judged multiple industry awards, including Jury President of the ADC101 Interactive Jury. He joins iris Worldwide from Ogilvy New York where he was CCO, responsible for the creative output of a diverse range of global and regional clients, including Ikea, Nestle, Nationwide and Samsung.
Prior to Ogilvy, he was the US CCO at Dentsu International, leading creative efforts for agencies including 360i, dentsuMB, and Isobar, after being promoted from his role as chief creative officer at 360i. Kluin is credited with transforming 360i’s creative output by leveraging his design background and prioritizing creativity rooted in traditional craft and design principles, but executed with a digital-first mindset.
With nearly 20 years of experience in the US creative industry, following earlier stints in Germany and Sweden, Kluin will relocate to Iris’ global headquarters in London. However, his role will maintain a strong focus on the US market, ensuring the agency’s global creative vision reflects the distinct needs and opportunities of global clients.
In his new role, he will focus on elevating Iris’ creative product while expanding its global social- and digital-first offering.
Ian Millner, co-founder and chair, iris Worldwide, stated, “Menno is only the fourth Global Chief Creative Officer we’ve had in our 25-year history, following some incredible creative minds who have each shaped Iris in their own way. Sean Reynolds was ahead of his time in understanding the transformative power of digital and design. Shaun McIlrath brought big strategic thinking that helped us build integrated relationships with major clients. Grant Hunter created culturally powered ideas that could travel across markets.
“Menno brings a blend of all these qualities—strategic thinking, digital-first innovation, and a deep understanding of culture. As the industry faces ongoing challenges of ‘doom, gloom, and Zoom,’ we believe now is the time for participation powered by creativity, innovation, and originality. These are the elements that clients can’t create on their own, and Menno’s leadership will be key in delivering this for them.”
Menno Kluin added, “Iris is at a pivotal moment in its evolution, with renewed energy and focus rooted in its original vision from 25 years ago, when the founders set out to challenge how things were done and to do things differently. For me, this is the opportunity to build something I’ve wanted to do since the height of 360i—a truly progressive global creative network that is creative, nimble, and simply exciting to work at: experimental, collaborative, and willing to take chances. Combined with a refreshing entrepreneurial, people-first philosophy, I couldn’t be more excited about this.”
Kluin will report to Ian Millner and work closely with Ben Essen, global chief strategy officer; Eduardo Maruri; Leigh Armstrong, EVP global growth and marketing director; and Benita Meswania, global chief people officer.
Kluin’s hire follows several other significant leadership announcements at Iris this year. In June, Jill Smith was promoted to CEO of Iris Americas, Andrew Silver joined from Huge as managing director of the Boston office and head of the CRM, data & technology practice, and Leigh Armstrong as EVP global growth and marketing director from Cheil and Cheil Connec+. It also follows a series of leadership hires across Iris’ global micro-network, including the recent appointments of Accenture Song’s Zoe Eagle as CEO of Iris London and House337’s Katy Hopkins as executive creative director of Iris London. Earlier this year, Benita Meswania was named global chief people officer, Andrea Basserman was appointed managing director of Iris Germany, Elisha Pearce was promoted to MD of growth and marketing, and Marie Little was appointed managing director of health at Iris. Iris’ clients include Samsung, Adidas, Samsonite, Bentley, Beiersdorf (Nivea) and Intercontinental Hotels Group.
