Career Discussions at McCann
**McCann Worldgroup Showcases Creative Advertising Excellence and Engages with Students**
McCann Worldgroup, one of the world's leading creative advertising agencies with offices in over 120 locations globally, including Leeds, United Kingdom, has made a significant impact in the advertising industry with its innovative and culturally relevant campaigns.
Recently, Miles Williams, the strategy director of McCann's, visited Notre Dame to discuss the creative advertising industry and share insights into a typical day in the life of a McCann employee. The students who attended the January 23rd talk were commended for their insightful questions, with Williams praising their perceptive queries and describing them as fantastic.
One of the notable campaigns discussed during the talk was Happydent’s "Chamking Gum: Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan," created by McCann Worldgroup India. This campaign, launched in 2025, highlighted the power of a radiant smile to spread joy and promote positive social behavior, such as reducing littering. The ad was praised for its long-term brand affection built through consistent creative excellence and trust between McCann and Perfetti Van Melle, lasting over two decades.
Another campaign discussed was the Smirnoff Ice 25th Anniversary Global Campaign, developed by McCann New York in partnership with Little Black Book. This campaign celebrated the brand’s history while pushing a bold, fresh creative direction to engage both loyal fans and new consumers. The campaign was recognized for its authentic yet innovative approach, capturing the brand’s essence with humor and wit.
During the talk, Williams discussed the collaborative, insightful, and client-focused work processes that engage employees throughout the creative and production lifecycle at McCann Worldgroup. Employees engage in ideation sessions to craft stories and concepts that resonate culturally and emotionally with target audiences. They also collaborate across teams, manage client meetings and strategy discussions, oversee production, and keep up with trends and cultural insights.
McCann Worldgroup has been responsible for advertising campaigns such as 'Did Somebody Say Just Eat' and Aldi's Kevin the Carrot Christmas advert, demonstrating the agency's ability to create impactful and memorable advertisements. The agency's success is rooted in its commitment to creativity, cultural relevance, and storytelling that captivates audiences and drives results for clients.
In addition to discussing McCann's most successful campaigns, Williams also shared insights into the ideas process behind these iconic advertisements, offering a unique perspective on the creative advertising industry. The students who attended the talk left with a better understanding of the industry and the opportunities it presents for aspiring advertising professionals.
[1] Perfetti Van Melle (2021). "Happydent: Chamking Gum - Chamka Muskaan, Jagmag Jahaan." YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49a57JC85s [2] The Drum (2025). "How Happydent's 'Chamking Gum' campaign is winning hearts and minds." The Drum. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2025/04/20/how-happydents-chamking-gum-campaign-winning-hearts-and-minds [3] Adweek (2025). "Smirnoff Ice Celebrates 25 Years with Absurd, Self-Aware Campaign." Adweek. https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/smirnoff-ice-celebrates-25-years-with-absurd-self-aware-campaign/ [4] Campaign US (2025). "Smirnoff Ice's 25th Anniversary Campaign: A Look at the Global Advertising Campaign." Campaign US. https://www.campaignus.com/article/smirnoff-ices-25th-anniversary-campaign-look-global-advertising-campaign/ [5] Little Black Book (2025). "Smirnoff Ice 25th Anniversary Campaign." Little Black Book. https://www.lbbonline.com/work/smirnoff-ice-25th-anniversary-campaign
- To excel in the creative advertising industry like McCann Worldgroup, one might consider pursuing education and self-development, focusing on career-development and skills-training in areas such as ideation, cultural relevance, storytelling, and collaboration.
- Armed with insights into the ideas process behind McCann's iconic advertisements, attendees of the Notre Dame talk now have a better understanding of the opportunities and skills required for a career in the advertising industry, which encompasses education and self-development in areas like creative advertising, campaign development, and client management.
