A major shake-up is happening at VSA Partners, a Chicago-based strategy and creative agency known for its work with global giants like Google, Nike, and IBM. The firm revealed today that it’s promoting three standout executives—YanYan Zhang, Kim Mickenberg, and Susan Pfeifer—to its leadership ranks, a move that underscores its focus on growing talent from within. With these changes, women now make up five of the seven-member leadership team at the 40-year-old agency.
Anne-Marie Rosser, CEO of VSA Partners, praised the trio for their proven track record.
“These promotions reflect our commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and fostering leadership internally,” she said. “YanYan, Susan and Kim have consistently demonstrated their ability to deliver innovative solutions for our clients while embodying our core values. As our industry continues to harness the power of AI, these three women bring strategic vision, breakthrough ideas and design craft—attributes that simply can’t be mimicked or replaced. And they deliver on these attributes daily with our clients, in a fast-paced and collaborative way that drives results.”
Zhang, a nearly 20-year veteran at VSA, steps into her new role as partner with a wealth of experience.
She’s built and evolved brands across industries like finance, tech, and commodities, working with heavyweights such as BNY, CME Group, IBM, PepsiCo, and Sappi.
Her knack for leading diverse teams has kept some of VSA’s longest-standing clients coming back, while her work also extends to local nonprofits, proving her versatility in both traditional and digital spaces.
Mickenberg, who joined VSA in 2017, also rises to partner, bringing her sharp creative instincts and business savvy to the table.
Leading the agency’s campaigns practice, she’s all about bold simplicity—crafting ideas that stick, stir emotions, and break the mold.
Her portfolio includes standout campaigns and brand work for clients like Chime, FactSet, Wayfair, Affirm, Google, and The Trade Desk, among others, cementing her reputation as a force in the industry.
Pfeifer, a partner since 2014, takes on an expanded role as head of operations while keeping her existing title.
Based in Chicago, she’s a marketing veteran with a knack for project management and client relations. Her efforts have streamlined workflows and sharpened VSA’s operating models, earning her recognition in Adweek.
With a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Pfeifer blends creative flair with operational know-how, managing relationships with Fortune 100 names like Google, BNY, IBM, and Kraft Foods.
Curt Schreiber, VSA’s chief creative officer, couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented individuals at VSA,” he said. “These promotions strengthen our creative leadership and position us for continued growth and success in delivering exceptional work for our clients.”
The promotions signal a bright future for VSA, a firm that prides itself on designing for a better human experience.
With a mix of branding, advertising, data science, and tech capabilities, the agency—part of the Meet The People network—continues to deliver for some of the world’s most iconic brands after four decades in the game.
