M&C Saatchi, Sydney lures Lee Simpson from Clems Melbourne for managing partner role

Australia: M&C Saatchi, Sydney has snared Lee Simpson from Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne – where he was managing partner & head of account management – to the managing partner role.

Having joined Clems to run the NAB business in 2012, Simpson added to his portfolio after leading pitch-winning teams on MLC (part of NAB), TAC (winning the business from the 24-year incumbent) and Draftstars (Crownbet). The work on these clients received awards at One Show, Spikes, CLIO, AWARD, Caples, Effies, Facebook Awards, ADMA/AC&E, and the AMEs. Simpson was also an awards judge on the Effectiveness jury at the New York Festivals.

As part of his role leading account management, Simpson created the ‘Fifth Floor’ training curriculum, which has been expanded across the whole agency and adopted by offices across the Clemenger Group.

Prior to Clemenger, Simpson was a board account director at the UK’s most awarded agency, AMV BBDO. His main responsibility was the Camelot National Lottery business including the ‘Life Changing’ positioning and award-winning good causes work. Vastly different to Australian lotteries, Camelot ploughs some profits back into charity projects, at a rate of £30 million a week. Alongside Camelot, he also led part the Diageo business.

Simpson cut his teeth in advertising at Grey London, becoming their youngest business director/GAD. His experience there spanned a range of clients including P&G, ten GSK brands (including a pitch win for the digital roster), launching a WPP start-up (e-commerce media tool selected as a global case study by Microsoft) and the British Heart Foundation digital business. His talent was recognised by Sir Martin Sorrell and he was selected for the WPP High Potential Group. After Grey, he moved to Beattie McGuinness Bungay on McCain (founding client) and Molson Coors.

Simpson’s U.K. work was awarded at Cannes, British Arrows, CLIO, Campaign Big Awards, Kinsale, London International, Andy’s, EPICA, Eurobest, Euro Effies, New York Festival, the Marketing Society, APG, IPA and the UK National Business Awards.