Caitlin Cartledge

In a rapidly evolving industry where machines are becoming smarter but human insight remains irreplaceable, Caitlin Cartledge is committed to something bigger than just her own career: building the next generation of planners equipped to thrive in this new era.

Her journey reflects this commitment. Starting as a digital apprentice at McCann Manchester in 2017, she deliberately rotated through every agency discipline, not to climb the ladder faster, but to understand how all specialisms connect. This foundation shaped her philosophy: excellence comes from breadth, curiosity, and lifting others as you rise. She progressed through social, media buying, digital strategy, and team leadership, then into business leadership and communications strategy during her time working at Just Eat. Now, as Head of Planning at McCann Manchester, setting planning standards across all McCann UK offices outside London, she's using that platform to ensure her peers and the next generation aren't left behind.

This multi-disciplinary mastery has shaped her approach. She treats planning not as a siloed function but as the connective tissue between brand and media strategy. She treats audiences as humans embedded in specific geographies and communities, and she treats her team as future leaders deserving investment and space to grow.

Her vision is rooted in radical creativity applied to planning excellence for the modern era. In an age of economic pressure, AI disruption, and organisational upheaval, the planners who will thrive are those who combine real human insight with technological fluency, and who are committed to bringing their peers along on that journey. Caitlin represents that kind of leader.