Ned McNeilage has been appointed executive creative director at BBH LA, reporting to worldwide chief creative officer Pelle Sjoenell. McNeilage will serve alongside Sjoenell, BBH LA CEO Frances Great and Agathe Guerrier, head of strategy LA, as a key member of the BBH LA leadership team.
Most recently McNeilage produced a series of campaigns for Apple at Media Arts Lab. He previously served as an ECD at CAA and creative director at Wieden+Kennedy.
McNeilage will be responsible for BBH LA’s overall creative output, ensuring the delivery of an outstanding creative product that pushes the boundaries of traditional advertising. McNeilage will also help to shape the business vision as the agency expands its remit beyond core advertising into strategic consulting, agile production and entertainment IP development. Additionally, he will be charged with the recruitment and career development of new BBH LA creative talent.
Sjoenell said, “Ned has been in my line of sight for over 10 years as he was one of the true pioneers who brought the advertising, entertainment and technology worlds closer together. But more so he is a huge believer in agency culture. From the very first conversations with us, he has demonstrated curiosity and passion for what BBH stands for and our Black Sheep approach.”
“This is a pivotal moment to be joining BBH LA,” said McNeilage. “The agency continues to grow with clients including Google, NBC Universal, T-Mobile, Unilever, Absolut, Depeche Mode and The United State of Women, while at the same time scaling its entertainment IP practice, bringing more scripted dramas, documentaries and game show formats to market.”
McNeilage brings to BBH 25 years of experience, spanning three continents, and the worlds of brands, entertainment and culture. He kicked off his career with a decade at Wieden+Kennedy, and most recently has produced campaigns for Apple. Beyond his advertising agency career, McNeilage spent eight years at CAA, spearheading brand work for the talent management agency. He has consulted for Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, and Sensei, Larry Ellison’s health and wellbeing startup. And he was a founding partner of Convicts, a multi-platform publisher and creator of original video and social content.
McNeilage has also shot three documentary films which have won prizes at major international festivals and screened on U.S. television. McNeilage has judged award shows around the world, and his advertising work has been awarded at such competitions as Cannes, One Show, and D&AD.
