CHE Proximity grabs Gavin McLeod from Ogilvy

Chris Pash
By Chris Pash | 2 March 2021
Gavin McLeod.

Ogilvy's Gavin McLeod is moving to CHE Proximity as chief creative officer to replace Ant White.

White left with former CEO Chris Howatson to start a new agency.

McLeod has been executive creative director at Ogilvy since 2019 when he returned to Australia from San Francisco where he was ECD at AKQA.

​“I’ve known and admired Gav for over 15 years and the prospect of being able to work with him is an absolute highlight for me," says Justin Hind, CEO at CHE Proximity.

"Gav is an amazing world class talent and I think we’re exceptionally lucky that he has agreed to join us and our executive team in defining the next era of CHEP.

"He is known locally, he is known internationally and he is a beacon for clients and creative talent alike. We all can’t wait to have him here leading the CHEP Creative and Experience product."

McLeod, who starts in July, has more than 20 years of experience fostering creative and collaborative cultures at some of the world’s most innovative creative agencies.

He has deep expertise working in the financial sector having led award winning campaigns for a number of different banks. His “Car Creation” campaign for NRMA Insurance picked up the top award at a number of award shows, including an Effies Grand Prix and a Cannes Effectiveness Lion.

He has led a 65+ interdisciplinary team at AKQA San Francisco, dedicated to delivering breakthrough creative and technology innovation for some of the world’s best-known brands including Audi, Activision Blizzard, IBM Watson and Levi’s.

Previously, McLeod was responsible for opening the Sydney office of R/GA, where he pitched and won work with Telstra, ANZ Bank, Macquarie Bank, Nike, Samsung, Toyota, Coke and Google.

He has also held creative leadership positions at TBWA Australia and M&C Saatchi Sydney where he rose to ECD digital and direct.

Sally Kissane, the newly promoted CEO of Ogilvy Agency: "Gavin has been a crucial part of the Ogilvy Sydney creative transformation, and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his journey.

“We currently have strong senior creative leadership across the board, in Sydney, Melbourne and within OPR and Health.

“Following on from yesterday’s news around the Ogilvy Australia Network, we are actively looking to a new creative leadership structure, allowing us to continue to offer the very best integrated solutions for all our clients.”

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