Ogilvy Melbourne has appointed Ant Simmons as its new Executive Creative Director (ECD), following the departure of Hilary Badger, who has taken on a new role at Leo Australia.
Ant Simmons, who joined Ogilvy in October 2023 as Group Creative Director, has quickly proven his creative capabilities, leading successful campaigns for well-known brands like AAMI, GIO, and Mondelez. He has been instrumental in shaping Ogilvy’s creative vision alongside Hilary Badger, and his promotion comes as a natural progression after his impactful contributions.
Gavin MacMillan, Managing Director of Ogilvy Melbourne, praised Ant for his strong creative instincts and dedication to high-quality work. He highlighted Ant’s ability to lead and mentor others, which makes him the perfect fit for the ECD role. “Ant has consistently demonstrated a talent for developing world-class work, especially in the FMCG sector, and his insights into consumer behavior will help drive Ogilvy’s continued success,” said MacMillan.
Ant himself expressed excitement about his new role, noting how rewarding it has been to work with the talented teams at Ogilvy. He is particularly enthusiastic about continuing his collaboration with Toby Talbot, Ogilvy’s ANZ Chief Creative Officer, who inspires creativity and brings a wealth of funny, memorable stories to the table.
Before joining Ogilvy, Ant held senior creative roles at leading agencies like Elmwood, Clemenger BBDO, GPY&R, and DDB. He also launched his own beverage brand, Do Water, a renewable paperboard bottled water product, showcasing his innovative and commercial approach to creativity.
Ogilvy’s ANZ Chief Creative Officer, Toby Talbot, shared his confidence in Ant’s ability to take Ogilvy Australia to new heights. “With Ant’s global experience and local insight, paired with Max McKeon’s leadership in Sydney, this is the perfect time for Ogilvy to embrace borderless creativity,” said Talbot.
As Ogilvy Melbourne welcomes Ant Simmons to his new role, the agency is excited about continuing its legacy of creativity and effectiveness, delivering outstanding results for some of Australia’s most trusted brands.