Esi Eggleston Bracey, Champion of the CROWN Act, Is Inducted Into the Advertising Hall Of Fame

Esi Eggleston Bracey’s impact on advertising has never been confined to campaigns. It has lived in culture, policy, and the everyday realities of people who, for far too long, were overlooked by the industry. That legacy was formally recognized as the American Advertising Federation announced Bracey’s induction into its 2026 Advertising Hall of Fame class as part of the program’s 75th anniversary.

The Advertising Hall of Fame honors leaders whose careers have shaped advertising, business, and culture over time. Fewer than 300 people have been inducted in its 75-year history. Bracey joins a distinguished class that includes Gordon Bowen, Susan Credle, David Droga, Tim Ellis, and Jim Stengel.

Currently serving as global chief growth and marketing officer at Unilever, Bracey has built a career defined by human-centered growth. In her own words, the work that has mattered most has always started with two questions: “Who’s being overlooked? How can we see and better serve them?”

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That philosophy has shaped some of the most consequential brand moments of the last several decades. From historic campaigns with CoverGirl to The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) and category-defining Dove work, her leadership has expanded not only what brands say, but what they stand for. The Dove campaigns she spearheaded did nothing less than propel an iconic brand into a new era while helping establish the acceptance of natural hair as a human rights imperative. Today, the CROWN Act provides legal protections against hair discrimination for more than 20 million Black Americans across 29 states.

These efforts were never positioned as cause marketing. They were rooted in insight, empathy, and the understanding that growth follows when brands reflect the real lives of the people they serve. As Bracey noted in her LinkedIn post announcing the honor, “Serving the underserved isn’t a cause. It’s being human-centric at its core. This is where the growth is.”

The honor arrives at a moment of transition as she prepares to depart the company at the end of the month. Bracey joined Unilever in 2018 to lead Beauty and Personal Care in North America, where she helped drive a step-change in performance and laid the foundation for sustained growth in the U.S. business. As global chief growth and marketing officer, she went on to redefine how the company builds demand worldwide.

Bracey will be formally celebrated at the Advertising Hall of Fame Induction Gala on April 23, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

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