MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Ogilvy today announces the promotion of Ant Simmons to Executive Creative Director, Melbourne.
A world-class creative with more than 20 years’ experience, Simmons first joined Ogilvy in October 2023 as Group Creative Director. Since taking the Ogilvy role, he has utilised his creative prowess across a range of award-winning campaigns for brands such as AAMI and GIO, while taking the lead on the Mondelez portfolio of FMCG brands.
During this time, he has also worked closely with outgoing ECD Hilary Badger on further building Ogilvy’s creative capabilities while mentoring upcoming talent. Badger is moving on to a new role within the industry, after more than two years with the agency.
Ogilvy Melbourne Managing Director Gavin MacMillan said: “Since joining Ogilvy, Ant’s strong creative nous combined with a laser focus on craft has seen him take an ever-growing role across the agency’s creative output. He’s been a champion of developing world-class work particularly within the FMCG sector and brings great perspective and observations on the world around us, and how it affects consumer behaviour. His natural ability to mentor and lead is a great fit for Ogilvy, and we’re excited that he has chosen to take this next step with our team.
“We are also incredibly grateful to Hilary for her role in fostering creative talent and leadership, and we’ve loved having her as part of our award-winning team. But we also recognise her desire to take the next step in her career and wish her well. Her ability to build great talent around her has enabled us to have full confidence in Ant’s ability to shift into this broader leadership role.”
Simmons said: “It’s been a highly productive period at Ogilvy, a strong reflection of the talent in the agency and the ambition to create effective work across all client teams. With arguably some of Australia’s most trusted brands as clients we are in a privileged position to apply creativity to solve their commercial ambitions. I couldn’t be more excited about working with Gavin, Danielle and the Melbourne team who are all the best in the business. And of course, continuing to work with Toby Talbot who not only inspires the best creativity but also seems to have an endless supply of ‘ugly-cry’ inducing funny stories.”
Simmons previously held the Asia Pacific Creative Director title at global branding agency Elmwood before joining Hilary at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne. He has previously worked at leading agencies GPY&R Melbourne and DDB Sydney and has launched his own beverage brand, Do Water; the first renewable paperboard bottled water in Australia. He brings his passion for innovation and commercial creativity to his new role at Ogilvy.
Ogilvy Network ANZ Chief Creative Officer, Toby Talbot, concluded: “Ogilvy has long been recognised as an agency with creativity and effectiveness in its DNA. We believe in Return on Creativity – ROC – and having someone of the calibre of Hilary Badger take that belief and supercharge it across iconic Aussie brands has been a privilege for me. I wish Hil only the best. She will always be a friend to me and to the broader Ogilvy family. But now is a new chapter. With Ant’s global view and local knowledge teamed with Max McKeon, our new Sydney ECD, this is the time for borderless creativity to really come into its own for Ogilvy Australia.”
