Radio Mercury Awards Announce Flor Leibaschoff, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of BeautifulBeast, as 2027 Chief Judge

NEW YORK – October 16, 2026 – The Radio Mercury Awards is pleased to announce Flor Leibaschoff, co-founder and chief creative officer of BeautifulBeast, as the 2027 chief judge for the 36th annual Radio Mercury Awards competition.

With more than 25 years of experience in the advertising industry, Leibaschoff is a passionate storyteller and creative leader known for developing ideas that drive business growth and connect with audiences across cultures. She made history as the first Hispanic woman to serve as a chief creative officer in the United States and has been recognized as a Shining Star by the American Advertising Federation and was named a Woman to Watch by DMN (Data. Strategy. Technology), New York.

Leibaschoff co-founded BeautifulBeast, an independently owned business growth company with offices in Dallas and Miami, where she leads creative development and champions cross-cultural solutions powered by creativity and data. A pioneer in the industry, she was among the first Young Creatives (YC) to win a Silver Cannes Lion representing the U.S. Hispanic Market, and she served as president of Círculo Creativo USA and was on the boards of industry organizations. Her work has earned recognition at leading international advertising festivals, including two 2026 Radio Mercury Awards. Beyond her creative leadership, Leibaschoff is a passionate advocate for equality, dedicated to mentoring the next generation of creative women and sharing her perspective on emerging industry trends at conferences and festivals.

“Our job is to make people who don’t want to hear us listen anyway, and maybe even fall in love. That challenge still keeps me going, and there’s only one way to win them over: a great idea. It’s a true honor to be named chief judge of the Mercury Awards, a staple of our industry for 36 years. What I love most about radio is that there are no case studies. You hit play, and the idea either works or it doesn’t,” said Leibaschoff.

“Flor has been a longtime friend and champion of the Radio Mercury Awards, and we’ve valued our partnership with her in strengthening and elevating the competition,” said Mike Hulvey, president and CEO of RAB. “We’re thrilled to welcome her as chief judge for our 36th annual awards and look forward to the creative vision and leadership she’ll bring to this year’s competition,” said Mike Hulvey, president and chief executive officer of RAB and chair of the Radio Creative Fund.

Awards categories for the 36th annual Radio Mercury Awards competition, along with Call for Entry guidelines and deadlines, will be announced in late fall.

About Radio Mercury Awards

The Radio Mercury Awards, the only competition exclusively devoted to radio and audio, was established in 1992 to encourage and reward the development of effective and creative radio commercials. The annual Radio Mercury Awards competition draws entries from advertising agencies, production houses, radio stations and educational institutions across the country. More than 21,000 commercials have competed in the Radio Mercury Awards, and close to $3.5 million in prizes have been awarded over the competition’s history. The Radio Creative Fund (RCF), a nonprofit corporation funded by the radio industry, governs the Radio Mercury Awards. RAB produces the Radio Mercury Awards.

About BeautifulBeast

BeautifulBeast is an independently owned business growth company co-founded by Flor Leibaschoff, who serves as chief creative officer. With offices in Dallas and Miami, the company specializes in cross-cultural solutions powered by creativity and data, helping brands connect with audiences and drive business growth.

Media Contact
Lindsey Martin
Lmartin@rab.com