BBH

Karen Martin is the CEO leading the charge in restoring creativity to the centre of the industry’s future.

As leader of both BBH and President of the IPA, she has spent the past year on a mission to champion creativity as the industry’s most powerful engine for commercial growth. This vision was introduced through the film The Woman Who Walked Around Soho, a modern homage to BBH’s iconic creative legacy. At BBH, Martin has combined inspiring cultural leadership with commercial performance. In a year of economic uncertainty she has led the agency to secure new business from the likes of Monzo, Häagen-Dazs, Segafredo and F&F Home. At the same time she oversaw award-winning work for clients including Burger King, Mentos and Tesco, contributing to a 2025 awards haul exceeding 50 wins. She expanded BBH’s entry-level programmes, The Barn and the Homegrown internship, ensuring accessible pathways for new creative talent. Outside of BBH she has been an influential industry voice, speaking at Cannes Lions, Campaign Live and the IPA Diversity & Inclusion Conference and working with organisations such as UN Women UK and AdUnlocked. And in her role at the IPA, she continued to reinforce her vision of creativity.