TBWA appoints Kimberlee Wells as Australian CEO
Kimberlee Wells
TBWA has named Kimberlee Wells as its new CEO of Australia, taking on the top job following Paul Bradbury’s exit earlier this year.
Wells has been with TBWA for close to 15 years, the past ten as CEO of the Melbourne output. During this time, she has built strong client relationships, winning major creative accounts including the Australian Defence Force, NAB, and Kraft Heinz.
She was also CEO of TBWA Adelaide, though the agency’s operational status remains unclear, as reported by Mumbrella last year. A release confirmed Wells’ leadership now spans both Sydney and Melbourne, with no reference to Adelaide. Mumbrella has contacted TBWA for an update on its South Australian operations.
Wells takes on the Australian duties from former president and regional CEO of ANZ, Paul Bradbury, who resigned in July, as revealed by Mumbrella, after the new Omnicom Oceania structure was announced. It took affect across Australia and New Zealand that same month, under the helm of Nick Garrett.
Bradbury had been with TBWA for nearly 20 years, having joined in 2006. He oversaw all agencies in the TBWA Australia and New Zealand group, including TBWA Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland, Fleishman Hillard, Sustain by TBWA, Fabric, and Eleven, which in Sydney, has just absorbed Omnicom stablemate Mango Communications, as revealed by Mumbrella.
Omnicom Oceania “enhances the strength of each of its agencies through a bedrock of scale, data and technology”, according to the release. Under Wells’ leadership, TBWA will leverage the new structure to amplify its “Disruption” philosophy, delivering “unfair commercial advantage for its clients, and unrivalled opportunity for its talent”.
Of Wells, Garrett said she is “passionate, tenacious and curious – qualities that make her stand out as a leader.
“Her ability to build strong client partnerships and lead people with conviction sets her apart,” he said in the release.
“As CEO of TBWA\Australia, Kimberlee will define the agency’s vision, setting it up for even greater success. I’m looking forward to working closely with her and her leadership team to design the future for our clients, supported by the full strength of Omnicom Oceania.”
Wells said she was “delighted” to accept the role: “Working alongside Nick and our national leadership team, our clients will experience the full potency of TBWA’s Disruption philosophy, amplified by the scale and capability that only Omnicom can offer.”
Wells will also continue in her global role as practice lead of Sustain by TBWA. She is also a board member of the Advertising Council Australia and advisory board member of Esfam Biotech.
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