Nicky Bullard departs MullenLowe as group chief creative officer

She has been at the IPG agency for almost three years.

Nicky Bullard: departs MullenLowe on 14 February
Nicky Bullard: departs MullenLowe on 14 February

Nicky Bullard, group chief creative officer at MullenLowe, has announced she is leaving the agency this week.

Bullard, who joined MullenLowe in May 2022, will depart on Friday (14 February). She has not disclosed her next move.

MullenLowe said they would not be replacing the CCO role "but new creative leadership (ECD) will be announced soon".

Tom Knox, MullenLowe chairman, said: “Nicky has brought tremendous drive and energy to improving the creative product at MullenLowe and made our ‘brandsocial’ promise of delivering big thinking with cultural impact a reality. We wish her the very best with her next chapter.”

Bullard was recognised as one of Campaign's Top 20 creatives in 2024 and under her leadership, the agency secured new-business wins including Co-op, the Department of Health and Social Care, Freemans, Invesco and The Children’s Society.

She also spearheaded the RNIB "Alt alts" accessibility campaign, advocating for improved text descriptions for visually impaired individuals. Her efforts influenced Cannes Lions to introduce a new award category.

Beyond her work at MullenLowe, Bullard is a vocal advocate against ageism in the advertising industry. Last year, she was invited to speak at the United Nations on the issue.

Jose Miguel Sokoloff, global president of creative council, added: “Nicky came to MullenLowe to shake things up and shake things up she did. She energised the creative department and changed the whole agency in the process, instilling passion for the work and care for the craft. Her legacy will live on in the team she built.”

Prior to MullenLowe, Bullard served as European chairwoman and UK chief creative officer at MRM for six years.

Before working at MRM, Bullard spent almost 16 years at Lida (which merged with M&C Saatchi in 2020).

Bullard said: “I joined MullenLowe London to turn around the reel, make the work truly integrated and up the agency’s creative reputation. Last year was a Cannes-winning year, a Clio-winning year, a Creative Circle-winning year. And we even made a bit of history persuading the wonderful Cannes Lions gang to create a new craft category.  

"I’ve brought in some exceptional talent from around the world and helped our local talent thrive. I have had the joy of working with an excellent leadership team, as well as creatively leading all our biggest new-biz wins.  

"Of course I am sad to leave, and immensely proud of the creative team I am leaving behind, but I am also incredibly excited that my destiny is in my own hands – and I’m very, very ready for whatever is next.”   

In January, Lucy Taylor, chief growth officer at MullenLowe London, announced her departure from the agency after six years.

In November last year MullenLowe chief executive Claire Hollands was appointed CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, replacing James Denton-Clark. MullenLowe has said it has "no plans for re-hiring a CEO for the time being".

Interpublic Group, parent of MullenLowe, and Omnicom have announced plans to merge, with a meeting of agency heads across the two holdcos taking place in January.

Source:
Campaign UK

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