Sid Lee Announces New Creative Leadership Duo

Sid Lee is thrilled to welcome back Johan Vakidis, who joins the team in Montreal as North America co-chief creative officer (CCO). He will share this role with Ali Stewart, based in Portland, combining their expertise and complementary backgrounds to bring greater depth to the agency’s creative direction and propel it to new heights. Their appointments mark a strategic milestone for Sid Lee, reinforcing its global momentum and commitment to bold and unconventional creativity.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Johan Vakidis back to Sid Lee, this time as North America co-chief creative officer," said Marie-Lise Campeau, global CEO of Sid Lee Group. “His unique vision and passion for emerging technologies will inject fresh energy into our campaigns. Together with Ali Stewart’s unique perceptive, cultural intuition, and strategic vision, they truly embody our spirit of unconventional creativity.”

With an impressive international background, Johan brings over 20 years of creative and strategic leadership experience from some of the world’s top agencies. His previous roles include senior creative positions at Publicis Montréal, C2 Montréal, Sid Lee, Publicis China, AKQA, R/GA, Disney, and Ogilvy.

Throughout his career, Johan has led major campaigns for iconic brands such as Nike, Disney, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé, L’Oréal, Heineken, adidas, Volkswagen, Louis Vuitton, and Tim Hortons. His work is consistently rooted in innovation, technology, and immersive experiences.

“The moment I stepped into Sid Lee’s Montreal office, I felt a fresh breeze — an energy driven by ideas that challenge the inertia of the traditional agency model,” said Johan Vakidis. “It’s a real pleasure to return to this unique and unconventional environment, where flexibility, boldness, and creativity take center stage — where the ordinary fails, and the unexpected thrives.”

Based out in Portland, Oregon, Ali Stewart brings strategic and creative expertise honed through years of experience both brand and agency side. Over a 13-year journey at adidas, she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand's global positioning. Across multiple leadership positions, she drove forward-thinking initiatives in brand storytelling, design, innovation, and cultural insight.

Having served as executive creative director in the US and as executive vice president, creative for North America at Sid Lee since starting at the agency a year ago, her new role as co-CCO is a natural progression that underscores the strength and impact of her work on world-class brand building.

Together, this creative duo will bring a resolutely international vision, forged through their complementary backgrounds across Asian and European markets. This alliance offers a unique creative perspective, enriched by the diversity of their experiences around the world.

Sid Lee continues to push the boundaries of creativity with an unconventional approach and a deep love of design. Without dismantling everything, the agency aims to reinvent with precision — keeping the product at the centre. A creative powerhouse that pushes limits while staying grounded in what matters most.