The complementary backgrounds of Ali Stewart & Johan Vakidis across Asia and Europe have been combined to add to Sid lee’s creative might. The pair join Sid Lee as co-CCOs in North America. For Vadikis, it’s his second round at Sid Lee. He was global executive creative director, 2020-22. Stewart moves up from her roles as executive creative director in the US and as executive vice president, creative for North America at Sid Lee after joining a year ago. Vakidis, joins the team again in Montreal; Ali Stewart will be based in Portland. Their appointments mark a strategic milestone for Sid Lee, reinforcing its global momentum and commitment to bold and unconventional creativity.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Johan Vakidis back to Sid Lee, this time as North America co-chief creative officer,” stated Marie-Lise Campeau, global CEO of Sid Lee Group. “His unique vision and passion for emerging technologies will inject fresh energy into our campaigns. Together with Ali Stewart’s unique perceptive, cultural intuition, and strategic vision, they truly embody our spirit of unconventional creativity.”

Vadikis has built an impressive record of creative and strategic leadership experience at some of the world’s top agencies – Publicis Montréal, C2 Montréal, Sid Lee, Publicis China, AKQA, R/GA and Ogilvy, as well as The Walt Disney Company. Throughout his career, Johan has led major campaigns for brands such as Nike, Disney, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé, L’Oréal, Heineken, adidas, Volkswagen, Louis Vuitton, and Tim Hortons.

“The moment I stepped into Sid Lee’s Montreal office, I felt a fresh breeze — an energy driven by ideas that challenge the inertia of the traditional agency model,” Vakidis commented. “It’s a real pleasure to return to this unique and unconventional environment, where flexibility, boldness, and creativity take centre stage — where the ordinary fails, and the unexpected thrives.”

Ali Stewart’s strategic and creative expertise has been finessed in both brand and agency roles, including a 13-year stint at adidas, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s global positioning.