Christopher Nurko
Christopher Nurko
Global Director, Brand Integrity and Experience
DDB Worldwide
A creative strategist, innovator and leadership educator, Chris has over 35 years of experience in the field of brand strategy and innovation. Before joining DDB Worldwide, Chris previously held roles at Interbrand, C-Space, FutureBrand, and Sapient Nitro. Having created some of the world’s most iconic brands, Chris has worked across almost every industry and arena sector globally such as CPG, Automotive, Travel, Healthcare, Technology and Financial Services.

Chris’ areas of expertise involve the combination of consumer insights with creative business strategy. His work on customer experience innovation includes breakthrough methodology on customer-centric and insight-led design thinking that has created exponential value and ROI for global companies in product, services and experience development. He has worked with engineering, software, hardware and design teams around the world.

His current role at DDB Worldwide focuses on re-inventing brands for the era of “Purpose-led” brand leadership. Purpose-led branding that supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Social Impact and embraces the need to lead a more ethical transformation in business and society. He has consulted and served in a pro-bono advisory capacity for the World Health Organization, Malaria No More, Safe Kids International, Human Rights Campaign, NYC Pride/Stonewall 50, PAWA clean-energy and various Animal Rights and Adoption charities.

Chris is a champion for ethics, diversity and inclusion within Interbrand Group and Omnicom and was recently named one of the top global most influential role models for the LGBTQ+ community by Involve. He also led the brand strategy and identity development of NYC and World Pride and Stonewall 50 in 2019.

Chris is a four-time judge for the CES Innovation Awards and has previously served as a judge for the WARC Cannes Lions awards.

He is currently an Advisory Board member and faculty contributor for Rutgers University Disruptive Innovation program and SCAD University for Creative Careers; and the Bournemouth University School of Advertising & Marketing (UK). Chris guest lectures at George Washington University School of Business and Georgetown University.

A US-UK national, he is a graduate of The George Washington University (BA, MA) and The London School of Economics (MSc). He holds an Advanced Certificate in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion from Cornell University.