BMF Sydney appoints ex-M&C Saatchi’s Paul Coles to the role of general manager on ALDI

BMF has poached M&C Saatchi’s client service director, Paul Coles to run ALDI, Australia’s fastest growing retailer and the agency’s biggest client. In his role as general manager, Coles will be responsible for leading a team of over 60 people and will report to managing director, Steve McArdle.

Coles comes to BMF with 15 years of experience in the advertising industry and is widely considered one of the best suits in the business. He spent the last three and a half years at M&C Saatchi, initially leading the IAG Group business before moving into M&C’s retail start-up, 1440, as part of the management team for the last 18 months.

Prior to that, he spent a stellar four years at Y&R / VML where he was group account director and new business lead, instrumental in the significant agency growth during his time there, winning key clients: Emirates, NSW Government and Brown Forman among others.

Before landing in Sydney, Coles spent a number of years in the UK at Saatchi & Saatchi London leading the Visa Europe and T-Mobile accounts and JWT London on Nestle and HSBC.

Throughout his career, Coles has been widely awarded with recognition across international and local award shows: Cannes, AWARD, One Show, Spikes, SXSW, ADMA, Effies and more.

Says McArdle: “Paul has an exceptional track record of running big, fast moving and complex accounts. Combine this with his passion for the creative product and easy-going charm and you have the perfect fit for BMF and the ALDI business. We’re excited to have him leading the charge.”

Says Coles: “The opportunity to join the ranks of BMF, working with some of the best creative brains in the business, leading one of the most creative accounts in the country, was an opportunity too good to miss. I feel extremely humbled to be part of the team.”