AAPI Heritage Month | Icon: Gladys Jeffrey

Gladys is an award-winning global advertising executive with a track record of driving brand growth at renowned creative agencies including DDB, McCann, and JWT. Raised in a small town outside of Kuala Lumpur, Gladys’s journey reflects a long arc from humble beginnings to global leadership — an experience that continues to shape both perspective and purpose.

Over the past five years, Gladys has led tech-enabled, global content transformations at Publicis Groupe. Highly experienced in modern, platform-enabled, performance-led operating models built to scale, Gladys delivers improved speed to market, high quality, and optimized cost across complex, multi-market ecosystems. A tech-savvy and avid AI advocate, Gladys actively integrates emerging and existing capabilities to deliver value for clients.

Currently overseeing a £45M+ global content portfolio at Publicis Production, Gladys partners with multinational clients to turn strategic ambition into consistently excellent, audience-resonant work. Her experience spans every major channel — from premium film and broadcast to high-volume digital commerce and social — and every region, underpinned by strong operational discipline.

Known for building and leading high-performing teams with grace, humility, and respect, Gladys is also a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, having dedicated a period of her career exclusively to DE&I consulting. Gladys brings a distinctly global perspective shaped by professional experiences in Kuala Lumpur, New York City, and London, along with a genuine commitment to work that reflects the breadth of the human experience.

Having worked at major advertising holding companies — including Omnicom, IPG, WPP, and now Publicis — Gladys has built and nurtured a broad global network over a 25-year career.