Clemenger BBDO Melbourne appoints ex-AMV BBDO’s Lee Simpson as GAD on NAB business

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has appointed Lee Simpson as group account director on the award-winning NAB business.

Simpson joins the agency from the UK’s most awarded agency, AMV BBDO. There, his main responsibility was the Camelot National Lottery business, including the highly emotive ‘Life changing’ campaign. Vastly different to Australian lotteries, Camelot ploughs the profits back into national infrastructure and charity projects, at a rate of £30 million a week, and contributed £2.2 billion to the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Alongside Camelot, he also led part of AMV’s Diageo business.

Simpson cut his teeth in advertising at Grey London, becoming the youngest business director in the office. His experience there spanned a range of businesses including P&G, GlaxoSmithKline, launching a WPP start-up and running the British Heart Foundation, which included the acclaimed (and awarded) digital campaign Yoobot. His talent was recognised by Sir Martin Sorrell and he was selected for the WPP High Potential Group.

After Grey, he moved to Beattie McGuinness Bungay, as group account director on the agency’s founding client, McCain, as well as part of the Molson Coors business.

Throughout his career, Simpson’s work has been recognised at major award shows, including the Kinsale Awards, London International, EPICA, Eurobest, the Effies, the Marketing Society, APG, IPA Awards and the National Business Awards.

CEO of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, Peter Biggs, says after a global search and some strong candidates, his colleagues at AMV BBDO mentioned they had someone who wanted to put his hat in the ring and move to Australia.

Says Biggs: “We were introduced to Lee through the BBDO network and immediately recognised his talent. He comes to us with impeccable credentials. He’s had extensive digital experience, has managed hugely important national accounts and understands the relationship between creativity and effectiveness. Plus, he’s a lovely guy. All in all, the perfect choice for us and for NAB – and a perfect example of how well theBBDO worldwide network works.”

Says Simpson: “Leaving an agency like AMV is never easy, but the opportunity to continue my BBDO career at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne was one I couldn’t miss. The work the agency produces speaks for itself and the role on NAB was well worth the trip to the other side of the world.”

A qualified marketing professional with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Simpson is the founder of a soon-to-launch location-based social network.