Chris Foster is the CEO of DNY and a passionate business and communications leader known for building brands, teams, and businesses that drive sustainable growth. With a career that spans continents and industries, Chris has led global agencies, launched innovative ventures, and shaped how some of the world’s biggest brands show up in culture.

Before DNY, Chris served as Global CEO of The Next Practice and COO of Saatchi & Saatchi. He’s also held senior leadership roles at Publicis Groupe and Y&R, guiding global clients and teams across creative, media, digital, and commerce. Over the years, he’s earned multiple Cannes Lions and been at the helm of high-impact, purpose-driven work in more than 70 markets.

A recognized thought leader on topics like brand purpose, sustainable business, the intersection of data and creativity, Chris has been featured in Newsweek, CBS News, and a guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Mornings with Maria.

Chris resides in New York City and has a passion for waterbiking.

You never know which is bigger—Val’s brain or her heart.  With DNY (formerly Deutsch New York) for over 30 years, she led the Agency in building mega-big global brands, as well as challenger and underdog brands, while simultaneously serving as a leader, mentor, and culture cultivator to the DNY family.  In 2025, Val was appointed to the Attivo Group’s board of directors and named Senior Strategic Advisor to DNY.  

Bronx born, with the accent and toughness to prove it, Val was brought up in a tight-knit family with three sisters. Val is a steadfast champion of women and underrepresented populations and accepts no compromise between winning and having fun doing it. Precious family time with her husband Dick and son Bryan is spent enjoying NY’s treasures, the theatre, the culturally rich museums, cooking and squeezing in as much travel as they can!

A 12-time award-winning creative and 2023 AdAge Leading Woman Honoree, Ashley Rudder is DNY’s Chief Creator Officer. Known for her inspiring leadership and innovative approach, Ashley brings a distinguished background in spearheading transformative initiatives within globally renowned consumer brands, leading social platforms, and the creator community.

Ashley’s unconventional career path, from make-up artist to global creative leader at M·A·C Cosmetics and award-winning CCO at Whalar, has crafted a unique tapestry of expertise across brand, agency, and tech sectors. Her expertise in content development, social media, and commercial brand strategy, particularly within the highly competitive and culture-driven beauty vertical, is exactly the talent DNY was looking for as we continue to evolve DNY, reshaping the additional agency model to better serve our clients.

“Creative Darwinism is inevitably reshaping the industry as clients crave more than traditional creative offerings; they desire agile, multifaceted, and modular solutions that deliver measurable results and adapt seamlessly to a constantly shifting environment,” Ashley added. “Now, we are uniquely equipped to meet these needs, with the power of The Content Shop uniting a diverse team of creators and innovators committed to crafting bespoke digital-first solutions for every client and project, setting new benchmarks and leading the future of our industry.”

Awarded globally, Ashley also is a jury member for Cannes Lions, the Webby Awards, and as the Jury President at the D&AD Awards, highlighting her influence and recognition within the creative community.

Matt describes himself as an “odd-shaped” strategist. We like to think of him as a unicorn; he’s led teams to create award-winning work in every category from social gaming, to direct response, from digital product and innovation to global brand work.

He’s also a wannabe outdoor fanatic and is currently a retired free-fall skydiver, retired rock-climber, retired snowboarder and skier—most likely due to his very fully employed job as father to high energy boys and even higher energy girls. But how many? More than a basketball team, fewer than a soccer team. He says exhaustion is a state of mind. We’re not convinced.

Inquisitive by nature and a quick study, you want Jayme in your corner when it comes to unearthing business solutions for complex marketing problems. Over the years, he has worked on major brands, including Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Bank of America and Burger King.

A go-to authority in all things digital, his current passion for all things web3, especially his prized NFT sheep, establish him as a published leader in the metaverse. He is an avid runner and father of three. Jayme says his boy/girl twins and teen daughter take turns keeping him young and aging him prematurely, sometimes all at once!

Over her 20+ year career, Karen has gained extensive planning experience managing large, multiproduct brands, as well as smaller niche marketers. Her integrated media approach has impacted brands including DIRECTV, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Sherwin Williams Diversified Brands, 23andMe, M&M’s, Sony Music and PNC Bank, among others. Frequently asked to share her POV, she’s been quoted in media outlets including Marketing Brew, Adweek and The Trade Desk.

Karen’s extreme passion for media has awarded her recognition from MediaWeek for Media Plan of the Year and MEDIA Magazine’s “Rising Media Star.” Outside of the office, Karen and her family can be found enjoying a good baseball game and spending weekends at the beach.

A powerhouse who has produced all over the world, in every category and across every medium, Miriam’s agency experience includes time with Wieden + Kennedy, Translation and Arnell.

Over the course of her career, she’s helped produce numerous award-winning and culturally relevant content and experiences, including: escalating the chicken sandwich wars for McDonald’s new Crispy Chicken Sandwich; and producing one of the most successful viral social campaigns and top-10 Super Bowl spots of all time, “Reebok presents Terry Tate: Office Linebacker.” Outside of the office, she’s busy producing the renovation of her 1840 Victorian house in Rhinebeck.

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