In-House Excellence Awards
Grand Jury

MARILYN SIMEON

Director, NNI Agency Operations and Management
Novo Nordisk

BIO

Marilyn Simeon is a seasoned operations leader with 20 years of healthcare advertising experience driving program delivery, process improvement, and multichannel marketing for major pharmaceutical clients. As Director of Agency Operations and Management at Novo Nordisk Inc., she launched and scaled a studio agency program that has delivered more than $70.8M in savings since 2019. Her agency model combines a roster of external partners with a centralized internal production team to accelerate speed to market.  She enjoys collaborating with cross-functional teams to turn ideas into reality.  

Prior to Novo Nordisk Inc., Marilyn led project management and operations teams at several agencies, overseeing multimilliondollar portfolios and implementing standardized workflows that improved productivity. She has deep experience in budget and contract management, regulatory submissions, system implementations, and change management. 

Marilyn holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management and Finance from Rutgers University, a B.A. in Sociology from The College of New Jersey, and is PMP certified by the Project Management Institute. 

Q&A with Marilyn Simeon

Provide one word that defines "In-House Excellence" in 2026. 

Competitive 

What is one trend in creative operations or in-housing you are watching most closely? 

How roles will adapt as AI capabilities continues to expand. 

In one sentence—what is the single most important element that moves an entry from "Good" to "Grand Prix"? 

The ability to resonate with the audience through authenticity while clearly demonstrating measurable outcomes. 

What is the #1 mistake teams should avoid when telling their campaign’s "story" in a submission? 

Failing to show how the campaign addresses the audience's problem. 

Why is it critical for in-house agencies to have their own dedicated stage for recognition? 

It’s an opportunity to highlight how in-house teams contribute to business goals and validate their strategic value, motivate teams, and create visibility. 

Get to know the 2026 In-House Excellence Grand Jurors.