DDB Sydney lures Paula Bloodworth from Ogilvy & Mather New York for planning director role

DDB Sydney has appointed Paula Bloodworth to the position of planning director for the agency’s Strategic Division.

Ms Bloodworth returns to Australia following nearly four years in New York where she held the position of planning director, Ogilvy and Mather NY, working across Unilever Foods, Nestle and more recently Philips Globally.  

During her time in New York, Ms Bloodworth received the Ogilvy and Mather North America Rising Star 2013 award and her work on Philips’ Norelco Men’s Grooming campaign received global recognition having been highlighted in Creativity Top5.

Says DDB Sydney managing director strategy and innovation, Leif Stromnes: “Paula brings fresh consumer insights to her work and collaborates closely with creative teams to produce award-winning, effective solutions that resonate with consumers, which is what attracted her back to Australia and the growing Strategic Division at DDB. We are really pleased to welcome Paula at what is an exciting time for the strategy and planning division. She has an impressive understanding of all facets of the business and her foresight and vision for the industry is a great fit for our clients.

Says Bloodworth: “Planning is becoming more about story telling and creating stories that consumers want to be a part of, talk about and ultimately own. DDB are famous and hugely reputable within the industry but what really impressed me is their receptiveness to change and enthusiasm for stories yet to be told. The strategic, planning and social teams have the tools and mindset to explore all campaign approaches to achieve the best for clients.”

The Strategic Division at DDB Sydney continues to grow in strength under the leadership of DDB Sydney’s managing director strategy and innovation, Leif Strommes. This growth has been aided by the highly successful Social Intelligence Unit which has played an instrumental role in several award-winning campaigns over the past 12 months including TrackMyMaccas and Tim Tams ‘Love More’ campaign.

Says DDB Group Australia CEO, Chris Brown: “DDB Sydney now has one of the largest communications strategy departments in Australia. We are seeing an obvious shift in how strategy has typically been crafted and presented, opening up opportunities to really push barriers and create insightful, social and participatory campaigns. To facilitate this, DDB Sydney’s strategic offering is evolving and expanding. We’re building a diverse team of modern thinkers who understand today’s socially connected Australia.”