Art Directors Club Europe (ADCE), one of Europe’s leading creative organizations and represented in Türkiye by ADC*T, has announced the appointment of its new President. Dörte Spengler-Ahrens, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board at Jung von Matt, has officially assumed leadership of the organization for its next chapter.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in ADCE’s 35-year history and comes at a time of transformation across Europe’s creative industries. Under its new leadership, ADCE aims to strengthen collaboration among creative communities throughout Europe and further reinforce its role as a platform for creative excellence.
A New Era for European Creativity
Recognized as one of Germany’s most respected creative leaders, Dörte Spengler-Ahrens is known for her extensive experience in agency management, creative leadership, and talent development. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in shaping internationally acclaimed work, building successful agency structures, and nurturing creative teams. She now brings this expertise to the broader European creative community.
Commenting on her new role, Spengler-Ahrens emphasized her ambition to further enhance ADCE’s visibility and influence within Europe’s creative ecosystem, while strengthening the organization’s position as a key reference point for creative professionals across the continent.
A Strong Advocate for Diversity and Representation
One of the defining aspects of Dörte Spengler-Ahrens’ career has been her commitment to diversity and inclusion. Previously serving as the first female President of ADC Germany, she led initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive and representative organization.
Spengler-Ahrens has frequently highlighted the continued underrepresentation of women in creative leadership positions and has been a vocal advocate for a more balanced and inclusive creative industry across Europe. This perspective is expected to remain a key priority throughout her presidency at ADCE.
One of Europe’s Most Influential Creative Leaders
After studying visual communication, Dörte Spengler-Ahrens began her career as an art director before moving into copywriting and creative leadership roles. She went on to hold senior positions within Jung von Matt, one of Germany’s most successful independent agency groups.
In 2000, she founded MARIA, one of Germany’s first female-led agencies. She later rejoined Jung von Matt and played a central role in establishing the group’s Berlin office.
Over the course of her career, she has worked with global brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, NIVEA, and Zalando. She has also served as a juror and jury president at some of the industry’s most prestigious international awards, including Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, LIA, Eurobest, and The One Show.
In 2024, Spengler-Ahrens was appointed the first Independent Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Jung von Matt Group. Today, she is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in the European advertising and communications industry.
