Mel Edwards is the Global CEO of Wunderman Thompson, the largest advertising agency in the world today, employing more than 20,000 creatives, data scientists, technologists, and storytellers across 90 markets. Mel came to Wunderman UK as the CEO in 2012 and soon built a reputation for recruiting great talent and empowering people to do the best work of their careers. In 2015, she was named CEO of Wunderman EMEA and in 2018 Global CEO of Wunderman. She then successfully led the agency’s transition to Wunderman Thompson, a global agency designed to inspire growth for the world’s leading brands. Today, some of the agency’s largest clients include Shell, Best Buy, Samsung, BT, EE, Duracell, and HSBC. Mel has a true passion for inclusion and is recognized globally as a leader seeking to address the historical imbalances in the advertising industry. At Wunderman Thompson, she has implemented a strong female leadership team, making it the only major agency today with females as CEO, CFO, and Chairman. She spearheaded Pass It On, a programme that provides space for reflection and access to other women who serve as mentors and help grow careers. She also created the Female Tribes programme, which is changing the narrative around women in the industry by finding great female role models in content, culture, and society. For all of these efforts and more, Mel has been named one of Ad Age’s European Women to Watch, a group of 20 executives making a difference in the industry.