Catherine Bannister

Agency: TBWA\RAAD

Catherine Bannister combines bold vision with cultural fluency and human empathy. As Chief Strategy Officer of TBWA\RAAD, she has rebuilt the agency’s strategic muscle around modern, multidisciplinary thinking, turning strategy from a department into a movement of curiosity, collaboration, and courage.

Since joining in 2024, Catherine has shaped a new generation of strategists who see Disruption® not as chaos, but as constructive creativity. Her influence is felt across clients, culture, and the industry: from transforming du into a symbol of digital progress and national pride, to judging at Cannes Lions and the MENA Effies, where she helps set global and regional standards for strategic excellence. A vocal advocate for women in leadership, Catherine mentors emerging talent and champions authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability as strengths. For Catherine, strategy is not about chasing trends, but shaping them. Through her work, TBWA\RAAD has become not only a creative force, but a cultural one, proving that in a world of followers, the bravest strategy is to lead.