72andSunny New York Elevates 4 Leaders to Group Creative Directors

^{Image (L-R): Geno Burmester, Peter Hughes, Whitney Yando, Clare Jensen, GCDs at 72andSunny New York}

Creative agency 72andSunny New York has promoted four of its longtime creatives to group creative directors.

The newly elevated group of Clare Jensen, Peter Hughes, Geno Burmester, and Whitney Yando take on their new positions immediately, as of this morning. They will report to 72andSunny New York’s executive creative director, Juliana Cobb.

“Clare, Peter, Geno, and Whitney don’t just make great work – they make us better,” said Juliana. “After pushing creative boundaries and making our teams stronger for the past decade, they're the ideal leaders to shape the future of 72andSunny New York."

Each of the new GCDs have deep, trusted relationships and shorthand with existing clients, thanks to an accumulative 35 years of experience at the agency. Peter and Geno joined in 2015, Whitney joined in 2017, and Clare in 2019 (having previously spent a two-year stint from 2014-2016).

“72 has always been a platform for creative growth and big opportunities. It's why I've stayed at the agency for nearly 10 years,” said Geno. “And it’s why I'm excited to step into a role where it's my job to help others grow and give them big opportunities to step up – for clients with just as high of ambitions.”

Clare added, “For me, the best part of advertising has always been the people. I’m lucky to step into a role where I’m not only tasked with guiding the creative work, but supporting some of my favourite people in the industry. I want 72 to continue being a place where creatives thrive personally, professionally, emotionally… and any other -allys.”

Evidenced by these promotions, 72andSunny is committed to nurturing and growing talent from within, and helping these leaders to create bold, fresh and business-driving creative.

These changes also come at a pivotal time as 72andSunny New York has significant momentum, recently winning accounts including MassMutual and Panera Bread, as well as awards at Cannes Lions, The Clios, One Show, ADC, D&AD, Gerety, and Webby Awards.

“Great ideas don’t happen in a vacuum – they happen when creatives feel inspired, supported and challenged to go further,” said Peter. “My job, now more than ever, is to help create that space, scale big thinking, and build on the New York office’s creative momentum.”

“My favourite creative leaders have always made work feel like fun, even when it definitely wasn’t,” said Whitney. “Happy creatives are more interesting, funny, compelling, thoughtful, and brave – and being a GCD means I get to create that environment for our people in this new creative chapter for 72andSunny New York. I’m excited to create a space where creatives can play around, take risks, and eventually call it an ad.”