Tom Bernardin

Tom Bernardin is the Chairman of Leo Burnett Worldwide and previous CEO of Leo Burnett Worldwide. He is a champion of creativity and a leader in dynamic business change. He has seen significant change in the advertising and marketing industry over the past three decades, including the past ten years as an executive leader at Leo Burnett Worldwide. Through this change, there has been at least one constant: his overarching belief that creativity is the most important asset in business.

Tom has guided Leo Burnett to consistent year-on-year growth, and with his creative focus has lead Leo Burnett to become the second most-awarded creative network in the world. He led the most significant restructuring in the company’s history and played a key role in bringing HumanKind, Leo Burnett’s creative and strategic philosophy, to life.

Overseeing the evolution of leadership brands has been a trademark of Tom’s success over the past 30-plus years. Throughout his tenure, Tom has fostered a culture committed to understanding human behavior and clients’ businesses. Today, his relentless focus on building strong cross-disciplinary teams inspires Burnetters throughout the network on such world-class clients as Philip Morris, P&G, Kellogg’s and Coca-Cola.

Prior to Leo Burnett, Tom served as the President and CEO of Lowe New York and Bozell. Under Tom’s leadership at Bozell, the company was named the third most creative agency in the world at Cannes, the industry's most acclaimed international advertising award show. He also spent eight years abroad at McCann-Erickson, responsible for brands such as theAmerican Express Gold Card, GM/Opel and Chrysler.

In addition to his role at Leo Burnett, Tom is a national trustee for the Foundation FightingBlindness as well as a member of the Ad Council board of directors.