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Leo Toronto Strengthens Senior Creative Team with New Focus on AI and Innovation
Leo Toronto adds Adam Pickard as Creative Director, Innovation, and welcomes Shirley Xu Wang and Marly Dichter to boost AI-driven creativity. They blend tech and PR insights to enrich brand storytelling.
Leo Toronto Strengthens Senior Creative Team with Focus on AI and Innovation
Leo Toronto is expanding its creative team by blending human insights with artificial intelligence. The agency recently appointed Adam Pickard as Creative Director, Innovation, reporting to Chief Creative Officer Angus Tucker. Shirley Xu Wang joins as Senior Art Director, working alongside Senior Copywriter Marly Dichter. Both report to Executive Creative Director Kohl Forsberg.
Adam Pickard: Driving Change Through Technology
Adam Pickard embraces disruption, calling his approach “good trouble.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, he took the chance to complete numerous AI training modules. For him, technology is now an integral part of the creative process, with clear strategies on how to use it effectively for clients.
When asked why he joined Leo Toronto, Adam explained, “The role was created after conversations with Angus Tucker and Ben Tarr about the creative department’s need for support with new technologies. I shared my insights from agency and freelance work and outlined educational initiatives I wanted to pursue. It was basically my dream job, so I had to say yes!”
Angus Tucker highlights the significance of AI: “AI will be as transformative as the internet was 30 years ago. But creative intuition, judgment, and ideas remain essential. Adam has a strong tech background combined with a maker’s mindset. He’s here to integrate new tools into how our creative teams operate and make the work more interesting.”
Shirley Xu Wang and Marly Dichter Bring PR-Driven Creativity
Shirley and Marly bring diverse experience, from traditional ad campaigns to playful, unconventional projects. Both expanded their skill sets by moving into PR, winning a Cannes Lion with the Cheetos campaign “Cheetle in Cheadle.”
They explained their move to Leo Toronto: “We saw an opportunity to apply a fresh PR perspective to advertising and focus on impactful brand building. Leo Toronto offers a space to blend advertising and PR skills while continuing to grow and create brands that stick.”
Kohl Forsberg adds, “Shirley and Marly—'Shmarly' as we call them—are a powerhouse of PR-first creativity. We’re excited to see how their approach will shape brand building in authentic ways.”
What This Means for Creatives
- AI is becoming a core part of the creative process, not just a tool but a system to build around.
- Combining traditional creative intuition with AI-generated insights can produce more engaging work.
- Collaboration between advertising and PR skill sets opens new possibilities for brand storytelling.
- Continuous learning about AI and technology is essential. Resources like Complete AI Training can help creatives stay updated.
Leo Toronto’s new appointments reflect a clear step towards integrating AI into creative workflows while maintaining the human touch that makes ideas resonate.