How an 88-year-old is remaining relevant in today’s adland
Leo Burnett’s Sydney and Melbourne general managers, James Walker-Smith and Julia Sheehan, spoke to Mumbrella’s Lauren McNamara on how they’re evolving the creative agency’s ‘HumanKind’ philosophy to solve modern marketing problems and prove the relevancy an 88-year-old has in today’s modern landscape.
In 1935, Leo Burnett took a risk and opened up shop in Chicago – against all sensible advice – in the middle of the deepest recession the world has known. 88 years later, the agency, now part of Publicis Groupe, has 85 offices globally and more than 8,000 employees.
As a pioneer in advertising, Burnett had a restless spirit and a commitment to doing the best work possible, James Walker-Smith, the agency’s Sydney general manager, tells Mumbrella. The same spirit and commitment he says continues today around the world.
With a philosophy of ‘HumanKind’ – which in essence is about people, purpose and changing behaviour – the creative agency strives to demonstrate how creativity harnesses the power of transformation.
