Radio Mercury Awards Names Flor Leibaschoff Chief Judge
The 36th annual competition selects a new creative lead to oversee jury evaluations for the upcoming 2027 cycle.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in People
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The Radio Mercury Awards has appointed Flor Leibaschoff as the chief judge for its 36th annual competition. The appointment elevates a creative lead to oversee the jury process for the upcoming 2027 event.
Why it matters
The choice of a chief judge signals the creative priorities for the annual competition, which serves as a benchmark for audio advertising excellence in the U.S. market.
The 36th annual Radio Mercury Awards succeeds the 35th edition previously overseen by Danny Gonzalez. Leibaschoff, who secured two awards in 2026, will now head the judging panel for the 2027 cycle.
The players
Flor Leibaschoff
Co-founder and chief creative officer of BeautifulBeast and the first Hispanic woman to serve as a chief creative officer in the U.S.
Radio Mercury Awards
An annual industry competition that recognizes excellence and creative achievement in radio and audio advertising.
Danny Gonzalez
The creative leader who served as the chief judge for the 35th annual Radio Mercury Awards.
The details
As the incoming chief judge, Leibaschoff is responsible for leading the jury that evaluates creative work across the radio and audio advertising landscape. Her role involves setting the standard for the entries submitted to the industry competition. The organization is currently preparing for the 2027 event, with specific category details expected to be released shortly.
Timeline
Flor Leibaschoff won two Radio Mercury Awards in 2026.
The 36th annual Radio Mercury Awards competition takes place in 2027.
Market Landscape
This appointment maintains the structure established during the 35th annual Radio Mercury Awards, where industry leaders are tapped to direct the judging process. It follows the precedent of rotating chief judges to reflect shifting creative standards in audio advertising.
Marketing and agency operators should watch for the announcement of 2027 award categories to align their upcoming audio campaigns with the competition's criteria. Monitoring the jury's focus under the new chief judge provides a signal on which creative strategies are gaining prominence.
The takeaway
Creative leaders are central to setting the quality bar for audio advertising. Agencies should review the winning entries from 2026 to understand the current benchmarks Leibaschoff helped define as a past award recipient.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and creative talent, see our coverage in People.
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Do you believe industry awards help identify the most creative advertising work?
