Bill Hickman
Chief Growth Officer at Leo Burnett in Chicago, Illinois
Bill Hickman is currently the Chief Growth Officer at Leo Burnett. With an entrepreneurial spirit, an infectious enthusiasm for tackling new challenges, and a gift for meaningful storytelling, Bill has helped drive a period of sustained growth without losing sight of what Leo Burnett called the “warmly and immediately human” work the agency does. His team has helped the agency bring in new clients like Pfizer, Fifth Third, Firestone and Intel, while supporting organic growth across the agency’s client portfolio. Bill has also expanded the agency’s definition of growth to encompass innovation (the new venture center Farmhouse), increased IP, better collaboration within the Leo Burnett Group, and more.
Over the course of his career at Leo Burnett, Bill has also managed the Leo Burnett Thailand office, overseeing business development and strategy for the Detroit office, and developed and directed the design of new global-management models for Coca-Cola and other top global companies.
Whether Bill is in his broad charge of bringing business to the agency, his intimate task of forging relationships with new clients, or his central role as leader to his team, Bill is passionate about helping people and companies grow. He inspires companies both great and emerging to think bigger, act with courage and appreciate the purpose that their brands can have in people’s lives. In the words of Bill: Assume nothing. Challenge everything. Find the one, best solution.