Steve Williams
CEO
Maxus Americas

Steve was privileged to have learnt his trade in a ‘full service’ agency environment (at Boase Massimi Pollitt/BMP DDB). Given this experience, he is a firm believer in, and propagator of, creativity. He is an ‘ad man’ through and through, and is as interested in the quality of an ad or a communication idea, as how ‘media’ and technology can make the difference in communications planning and execution.  

He is zealous about creating and retaining an energetic organizational culture; nurturing conditions whereby people can seed and grow ideas together. Leading great people, building strong teams, and driving impactful creativity, get him up early. As such, Steve has always subscribed to a people-first philosophy, believing that a powerful and respectful culture begets results in business.

After a twenty-year (plus) journey with Omnicom, Steve is now working within the WPP/GroupM business (commencing July’14), leading Maxus for the Americas region, as CEO.

Steve is a member of the 4As Media Leadership team in the USA, and was awarded The Internationlist’s – Agency Innovator Award in his first year here (2012).

Within the UK industry, Steve was the chair of the Independent Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) Media Futures Group and Council member; he was appointed a Fellow of the IPA in 2012. 

Steve is a frequent awards judge for key industry events both locally and globally – Campaign (UK), Media Week (UK), IPA and Irish Effectiveness, Creative Media Awards (US), Cannes Media Lions (Global), Cannes Young Lions (US & Global), AME Awards (US), Effie Awards (North America) and Festival of Media (Global & Latin America).