FRANCISCO ENRIQUE MENA
Creative Director
Bilingual Creative Lead — Art Direction & Spanish Copywriting
Award-Winning Brand Strategist | Inclusive, Social-First Thinker | AI-Driven Storytelling
Inclusive-minded Creative Director and Brand Strategist with 20+ years of experience in design, marketing, and communications. Known for developing culturally resonant, award-winning creative with a social-first and earned-first mindset.
Proven track record leading bilingual (English/Spanish) campaigns across social, digital, and experiential platforms. Combine strategic insight with creative execution, leveraging AI-driven workflows to accelerate ideation and production.
Fluent in both visual and verbal storytelling—knowing when to push creative boundaries and when to deliver with precision
Employment
Creative Director – PACO Collective
Chicago, IL | August 2014 – Present
- Creative Lead (Art Direction & Spanish Copywriting) for social-first campaigns across BLEE, BMO, UFM, and The Messi Experience, delivering culturally fluent content optimized for TikTok, Instagram, and digital ecosystems.
- Led the NIPSCO social campaign, including banners and short-form video adapted to real-time cultural trends and community engagement.
- Integrated AI-based tools into creative workflows to improve production speed and creative quality.
- Directed cross-functional collaboration with strategy, account, and production teams to align creative with KPIs and brand purpose.
- Led award-winning, inclusive campaigns for clients like Amazon, Takeda/BioLife, and Illinois Lottery.
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Consulting Creative Director – Multiple Agencies (AXIS, Accentmarketing, SMG-ROI)
Los Angeles, CA | August 2012 – August 2014
- Led creative and design projects for the U.S. Hispanic market, including communication strategies, Spanish-language content, and brand identity systemsacross print and digital.
- Delivered culturally relevant campaigns for key clients including Kaiser Permanente, Farmers Insurance, Telefónica, Covered California, Diageo (Don Julio, Cuervo Tradicional, Buchanan’s), Ocean Spray, Gallo Wines, and HealthNet.
- Collaborated with creative teams at Axis Agency, Accentmarketing, and SMG-ROI.
- Developed and launched Telefónica’s first-ever U.S. campaign, crafting messaging tailored to bilingual consumers.
- Co-created Swissli, a cereal brand concept designed for multicultural markets across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
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Creative Director – IPG Accentmarketing
Los Angeles, CA | September 2010 – August 2012
- Developed Addy Award-winning campaigns for Farmers Insuranceand Kaiser Permanente, earning Best of Show while elevating brand equity within strict budget limits.
- Led concept development and Spanish-language creative(print, web, TV scripts) aimed at increasing brand presence in the U.S. Hispanic market.
- Collaborated with senior account and strategy teams on creative brief development and campaign execution.
- Presented concepts to executive creative leadership and directly to clients, maintaining high standards of craft and urgency.
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Creative Director – Ethnic Marketing Group (EMG)
Los Angeles, CA | December 2007 – September 2010
- Headed the creative and interactive department; established a strategic partnership with The Mars Agency, acting as their Spanish-language arm.
- Led creative development for multicultural campaigns for Blue Cross, Ocean Spray, Bulova, and Conagra, focusing on shopper marketing and consumer engagement.
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Creative Director – The San Jose Group
Chicago, IL | June 2000 – December 2007
Major clients: ACS, ANHEUSER-BUSCH, ATA, BUD LIGHT, BUDWEISER, COCA-COLA, COMED, CUB FOOD, DIAL, DOMINICK’S, DOMINO SUGAR, EXELON, FLEET, GE, GLAXO SMITH KLINE, HANES, HCCA, HERDEZ, HORMEL, IBOT, MUSSELMAN’S, NATIONAL PORK BOARD, ORTHO-MC NEIL, PECO, PEPSI, PS&G, PUREX, QUERICO.COM, SAM’S CLUB, SEARS, SENSODYNE, SPAM, TRICOR, US CELLULAR, WALMART
