Joan Colletta is a distinguished marketing leader with a proven track record of driving transformative growth for some of the world’s most iconic brands. With a unique blend of experience across brand-side, creative, and media domains, she is celebrated for her influential leadership, strategic prowess, role as a change agent and creative catalyst. 

She is widely known for leading McDonald’s global creative program, which fueled a brand and creative renaissance for the Golden Arches. This led to unprecedented business results and consistent, multi-year recognition as the Most Effective Global Brand by both WARC and Effie’s. In 2024, Joan founded The Creative Conservancy to help other brands and agencies drive growth by accelerating Cultures of Creative Effectiveness.

Prior to McDonald’s, Joan was Managing Partner and communications planning lead for Mindshare North America, and held leadership positions at Miller Brewing Company, Cramer-Krasselt, and Leo Burnett. Her diverse experience spans nearly every category, with a track record of revitalizing iconic brands such as setting Corona on a 10-year growth trajectory through the development of the enduring “Find Your Beach” platform.

A regular contributor to the creative industry, Joan has been a speaker at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Brand Innovators, the ANA, and 4A’s conferences, and a Finalist Juror for many top global creative award shows. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Chicago Advertising Federation. Outside of work, Joan's deep passion for animals and their wellbeing shines through her in appointment as a City Commissioner for Chicago Animal Care and Control and her global “Animal Quest” travels, while most recently volunteering for Rhino Conservation in South Africa.