Clemenger BBDO Melbourne hires Scott Balalas as GM, and CUB lead
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has hired Scott Balalas as general manager, where he will be taking the lead on the Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) / Asahi account.
Balalas arrives back in Melbourne after six years in New York, most recently in the role of group brand director at 72andSunny. Across his career he has also worked at agencies including Anomaly, Havas and BMF.
On his appointment, Balalas said: “It has been awesome to watch from afar as the advertising industry in Australia continues to make its mark as one of the world’s most creative markets. Clemenger BBDO Melbourne continues to be at the forefront of that movement. In discussing the agency vision with Jim and seeing the creative firepower Clemenger is attracting, I’m incredibly excited to be part of the team.”
Balalas
Balalas has worked with some major accounts over the course of his career, including Budweiser, Smirnoff, Converse, Google, YouTube and Carhartt.
Jim Gall, CEO of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne
Clemenger Melbourne CEO Jim Gall said: “Scott is a fantastic talent with huge energy and a compelling creative pedigree. Wherever Scott goes, great work consistently follows and I am confident this will continue with CUB.”
Balalas will take the lead on the CUB account, in the role previously held by Jonny Berger, who has since moved within the Clemenger Group to take up a managing partner role at CHE Proximity.
CUB was acquired in June 2020 by Asahi.
Balalas added: “While I’m naturally excited to return home with my young family. I’m even more excited to return to such a powerhouse organisation with a clear vision for results driven creativity and I’m beyond excited to work with the Brewery on some of Australia’s most iconic brands. But if I’m totally honest, the thing that I’m most excited about is an ice cold stubby of VB.”
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Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
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