30 years ago Bob walked into his first job as a 19 year old copywriter – in a six person agency above a Chinese restaurant in outer Melbourne, Australia. The clients: local car dealers and real estate agencies. It was here that he learned the value of ideas that do actually move people to action.
Fast forward: in 2001 he joined Leo Burnett in global HQ in Chicago as a creative leader, initially as Chief Creative Officer of iLeo (the first integrated digital and database marketing group inside Leo Burnett), and later as an Executive Creative Director leading global marketing platforms for clients including Samsung, Coca-Cola and Starbucks.
In 2010 he took on the role of Executive Vice President and EEMA Regional/Executive Creative Director in Moscow, working exclusively with global clients including Phillip Morris, Diageo and Ferrero Rocher.
During his time in Moscow Bob supervised the development of new kind of integrated studio offering from the agency. Building a group that offered innovative solutions spanning digital, consumer engagement, retail, packaging and environmental design, they delivered major new product and experiential platforms.
Prior to joining Leo, Bob was lucky enough to be at Clemenger Direct during their heyday as one of the world’s leading direct marketing agencies, and M&C Saatchi just they opened for business in Australia. Here he helped to build a direct and digital group that was eventually recognized as one of the most creative BTL shops in the world, and working with names like BMW, Hewlett Packard and ANZ Bank to create award-winning, business-changing campaigns.
In 2017 Bob returned to Melbourne, where he partnered with Dom in the reinvention of Cowan in Australia focusing on strategic innovation projects for clients including Petbarn, Sanofi and Masterfoods.