Iris Americas Appoints Alex Abrantes as Chief Creative Officer, North America

Jul. 23, 2025

the global creative micro-network, today announces the appointment of Alex Abrantes as Chief Creative Officer, North America, strengthening its creative leadership at a time of regional growth and momentum.

Abrantes joins from FCB New York, where he served as Executive Creative Director and led award-winning work for global brands including Michelob ULTRA, Spotify, and Hyundai.

A seasoned creative with deep big-agency roots, he was named the number one creative director in the world by The One Show in 2023 and 2024, having also led the world’s most awarded campaign in both years - “McEnroe vs McEnroe” and “Dreamcaster”, respectively. 

His work has earned some of the industry’s highest honors - including two Emmy Awards and more than 30 Cannes Lions over the past five years - and he played a key role in FCB being named North America Network of the Year at Cannes for seven consecutive years. Most recently, he returned to the Cannes Lions stage in 2025 to collect two Gold Lions. He has also held senior creative roles at Publicis.

Based in New York, Abrantes will report to Jill Smith, CEO of Iris Americas, and will lead the creative output across the agency’s integrated teams in New York, Boston, Atlanta, and Toronto. He will work closely with global Chief Creative Officer Menno Kluin and Brian Gartside, Iris’s new global design lead, and the wider leadership team to deliver bold, participation-led work for clients across the region.

In his new role, he will also take the lead on key accounts including CPK, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Gallo Brands, Bentley, and IKEA and oversee creative talent across the U.S. and Canada.

His appointment follows a wave of senior leadership moves across Iris – including Smith’s promotion to CEO of the Americas, Elizabeth Hall’s elevation to Group Managing Director, and the arrival of Eduardo Maruri as Global Creative Chair – as the agency continues to expand its creative capabilities and deepen its presence across North America.

It also follows Iris’s bold new global rebrand, centred on the rallying cry Participate or Perish, and a renewed focus on helping brands stand apart in culture through original ideas, creative courage, and strategic integration. Iris’s Americas business continues to grow, with key clients including Samsung, Beiersdorf, IKEA and California Pizza Kitchen.

Jill Smith, CEO of Iris Americas, commented:

“Alex is a world-class creative talent and a true cultural operator. He brings the energy, ambition and craft needed to push boundaries and build work that earns attention. But more than that, he shares our belief in original ideas and creative courage – the kind of work that refuses to be templated or commodified. As we continue to grow our footprint across North America, his leadership will be instrumental in helping our clients not just show up in culture, but shape it. That’s what Participation looks like – and that’s what Iris stands for.”

 

Menno Kluin, Global Chief Creative Officer, Iris, added:

“We’re building a new kind of creative network at Iris - one that’s nimble, ambitious and unafraid to challenge convention. Alex shares that vision. He’s not just a brilliant creative, he’s a cultural thinker and a collaborator, and he knows how to turn bold ideas into work that earns its place in the world. As we continue to evolve our ‘Participation or Perish’ proposition, his arrival signals our commitment to creativity that doesn’t play it safe – creativity that moves people, brands and culture forward.”

 

Alex Abrantes, Chief Creative Officer, North America, concluded: 

“Iris has all the right ingredients to become one of the most creatively respected agencies in our industry: talent, ambition and vision. I’m deeply appreciative of the investment being made in creativity, because when it’s done right, creativity doesn’t just build brands, it drives business. I’m incredibly excited to join the team and help build the kind of agency we’ve always dreamed of working for.”

 

This appointment marks another step in Iris’s regional growth story, including the expansion of its integrated offering, a new Cheil Affiliate Network hub in New York, and continued investment in talent across its US and Canadian offices.