Steve Jun guides INNOCEAN’s philosophy and leads our mission to provide our clients with our brightest thinking, exceptional service, and varied expertise. In addition to his role in the US, Steve also oversees INNOCEAN offices in Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Steve’s leadership brings a unique East-West perspective to today’s global marketplace as he steers INNOCEAN into a new era.

Leslie Barrett is the first President of INNOCEAN USA. A seasoned creative business leader, she is recognized for driving innovation, building strong client relationships, and leading highly awarded teams that deliver transformative growth. She is passionate about helping brands unlock their full potential and shaping the future of creativity through emerging technologies like AI.

Prior to INNOCEAN, Barrett served as President & Partner at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, where she led BMW and brought MINI on board in 2023. Beyond automotive, her teams have guided brands across industries including Comcast/Xfinity, Nest, One Medical, Oura, General Mills, Blackstone, Samuel Adams, and Califia Farms.

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Known for his rare mix of strategic depth, multicultural intuition, and cross-discipline expertise, Lee Maicon brings over 20 years of experience leading strategy across brand, digital, media, and data. Lee drives the agency’s integrated strategy and future vision, guiding a strong team of hybrid thinkers to help shape compelling narratives that deliver measurable impact. Lee partners closely with clients to unlock growth and relevance, ensuring INNOCEAN USA’s work is bold, resonant, and built for what’s next.

Over the course of his career, Lee has held key leadership roles at top agencies including McCann, 360i, Edelman, and StrawberryFrog, and has helped drive both business and creative results for some of the world’s most recognized brands such as Coca-Cola, Google, HBO, Oreo, Target, Toyota, Univision, Verizon, and Walmart.

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Steven is a digital native at heart. With over 20 years of experience across website & app development, digital advertising, and emerging technology, he is responsible for digital strategy and operations across INNOCEAN. In addition to developing and executing the agency’s digital vision, Steven will be leading the expansion of the team’s capabilities in the US. He has worked with key clients across automotive, financial services, CPG, telecom, and spirits.

Harrison leads INNOCEAN USA’s financial strategy and operations, ensuring the agency’s long-term stability and growth. He has been part of the INNOCEAN family for more than three decades, holding key finance roles across Seoul, London, Frankfurt, and now Huntington Beach. His long tenure and international perspective give him an unparalleled understanding of our business and the clients we serve, enabling him to turn financial insights into clear strategic opportunities.

Jason Sperling leads the creative direction at INNOCEAN USA, helping shape a more modern, integrated model of creativity across the agency. His approach centers on creating breakthrough and innovative ideas that extend beyond advertising and influence how brands behave, participate, and connect with people and culture.

He has earned numerous Cannes Gold Lions, an Emmy nomination, and in 2026, was recognized as an Adweek Architect of Culture. Prior to INNOCEAN, he helped create iconic campaigns for brands including Apple, Honda, TikTok, Amazon, Disney Pixar, and UNICEF. Among them was Apple's "Mac vs. PC" campaign, which Adweek named the "Campaign of the Decade.” He is also the author of two books on creative leadership and brand building in an era of increasing consumer skepticism.

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It’s no surprise Nancy is leading all efforts devoted to cultivating our people and culture here at INNOCEAN. Her passion and empathy for people is legendary. With over twenty years’ experience working across all levels of a company to enhance the employee experience, Nancy listens to the people and fosters an environment of teamwork and respect where employees can learn, grow and have fun. There’s nothing she enjoys more than seeing those she has worked with succeed and thrive in their careers.

Jeremy Asselin is a seasoned marketing leader managing overall business operations for Hyundai Motor America at INNOCEAN. Quick to gain the trust and respect of business leaders and teams, Jeremy has a strong track record for streamlining efficiencies and supercharging business operations, particularly during times of transition and change. His brand experience and impact over the years extends to Ford Motor Company, Lincoln-Mercury, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, and Spectrum (formerly Charter Communications) and the U.S. Tennis Association.

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With two decades of experience overseeing all aspects of digital production, budgeting, and team management, Julie has established a reputation for delivering exceptional digital products and services that surpass client expectations. Adept at solving complex problems and thriving in fast-paced environments, she is a natural collaborator who excels at cross-functional team leadership. Currently serving as a key leader in Innocean's day-to-day operations, Julie is committed to driving innovation and growth while prioritizing operational excellence.

Eddie brings over 20 years of experience in integrated communications planning working on a variety of high-profile clients and industries and has consistently helped brands push their limits to develop and deploy First-To-Market and progressive media and marketing solutions.

His work has included national and hyper-local traditional and digital planning, analytic modeling and client services across a large spectrum of accounts including Automotive, Technology, Retail, Sports Marketing, Education, Hospitality, Restaurant, Grocery, Logistics and Financial​.

From her experience working with the world's largest retailer to the country's largest volunteer health organization, Alison has had the good fortune to work with brands at the most transformative times in their history.  

Alison started her career working on Lexus; she zigzagged across the country to work on a diverse group of brands, including Jaguar, Patrón, Walmart, AT&T, Blue Diamond Almonds, and the American Cancer Society. Alison oversaw the Patrón Tequila account and the brand team on Acura. Most recently, Alison worked as the Business Lead on Jack in the Box. Alison was also named one of Cynopsis' Top Women in Media in 2019.

Ben Gogley is a numbers guy. Relentless, performance based and results oriented, he’s at the helm of operations for our INNOCEAN Media Group, responsible for about $1B in media billings and finding the best paths in innovation to keep us at the top of our game. Ben currently oversees the UC Davis Health, Hyundai, Genesis, Wienerschnitzel and SKS media accounts.

Erica lives and breathes all things digital. She has led teams across the entire digital marketing landscape, including the peaks and valleys of websites, CRM, performance marketing, and social media. Known for her strategic approach, Erica excels at forging strong teams and stakeholder relationships while always looking for opportunities to grow the business and explore the unknown. As SVP of Digital Growth & Innovation, she is committed to expanding INNOCEAN's digital frontier, driving innovation and transformation, and growing the digital business.

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Brandon has had a storied career. He led the global Apple iPad, iPhone and AirPod teams. He also ran point on the Jordan brand. And he wrote a Sundance film to boot. He can write copy, art direct and design, but the special skill he brings to this team is his thoughtful leadership approach and ability to find the soul of a brand.

Crystalyn Portwood leads growth at INNOCEAN USA, helping the agency build new relationships, create meaningful partnerships, and connect with brands looking for an agency built for action, not layers.

With more than 20 years of experience across media, marketing, sales, and business development, Crystalyn has built her career around one simple belief: growth starts with people. Known for her collaborative approach and natural curiosity, she believes the best opportunities begin with a “yes, and” mindset, listening first, building on ideas, and bringing together the right people to solve business challenges and unlock new opportunities.

Throughout her career, Crystalyn has helped organizations navigate change, accelerate growth, and build lasting partnerships. Her experience spans media, customer experience, data, technology, and creative services, giving her a unique ability to connect business objectives with customer needs and transform ideas into measurable growth.

Before joining INNOCEAN, Crystalyn served as Senior Vice President of Growth at iProspect and held leadership roles at Merkle, Empower, iHeartMedia, and CBS Radio.

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“Say it simply and leave them smiling” is the mindset that has guided Ryan’s creative career. That approach has helped him lead brands like Hyundai, Snapple, Levi’s, Wienerschnitzel, and Volkswagen to record-breaking sales, Super Bowl glory, and numerous industry awards. Ryan specializes in crafting highly entertaining brand messages that reflect their audience and break through the clutter.

High profile, high pressure, and high production value define the exceptional work Nicolette, and her team have delivered for over 12 years at INNOCEAN. The proof is in nine of Hyundai’s last Super Bowl spots and everything in between, earning her a well-deserved spot on the Adweek 50 list along with countless other accolades.

She’s been the driving force behind the production department’s development, with key contributions such as launching the INNOCEAN Content Creator Program to streamline efforts, drive efficiencies, and save millions on external costs. With Nicolette’s leadership backed by her 20+ years in production, nothing is impossible.

David has spent over 25 years helping brands and consumers connect. Leading the INNOCEAN experiential team, this work continues on behalf of agency clients Hyundai, Genesis and Supernal, as David and his team bring their brands to life through innovative and exceptional integrated campaigns. From the greens of the PGA TOUR to the runways of the UK, a consistently raised bar ensures that his team is at the forefront of building and executing industry-lauded and award-winning branded experiences.