- Eleftheria Parpis

NEW YORK Susan Credle, a 24-year veteran of BBDO in New York, is joining Publicis' Leo Burnett, Chicago, as U.S. chief creative officer, Burnett confirmed today.

Credle, executive vice president and executive creative director at BBDO, is best known for her work on the Omnicom agency's M&M's business, on which she has managed creative chores since 1995, and AT&T, which she has led since 2007.

Credle replaces Leo Burnett's former CCO John Condon, who parted ways with the agency earlier this year. Condon had assumed the role after longtime creative chief Cheryl Berman left the agency in 2006.

In her new role, Credle will report to Burnett worldwide CCO Mark Tutssel and have oversight of Leo Burnett and Arc USA.

"Creativity is the heartbeat of this agency. There is no role that is more important in powering this agency to the top than the U.S. CCO role," said Tutssel, in a statement. "We have found the perfect leader to take on this responsibility. Susan is a creative powerhouse with a demonstrated ability to lead blue-chip clients to outstanding creative heights while creating work that truly matters to people. Her talent is simply exceptional."

Added Credle: "The opportunity to work in an agency that values creativity so highly -- and has such aggressive ambitions to be the best in the world -- is one that I couldn't pass up."

Credle began working at BBDO in 1985 after graduating from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.