Leo Burnett Sydney Ramps Up Team With Two New Appointments

Leo Burnett Sydney Ramps Up Team With Two New Appointments

Leo Burnett Sydney has bolstered its account management team with the appointment of two group business directors following a global talent search.

Bringing with them combined industry expertise of more than 25 years; Jonny Bucknall and James Walker-Smith are exceptional operators who will further enhance the agency’s senior offering.

Bucknall joins Leo’s from BMF where he spent four years, the past three as group account director running the ALDI piece of business. He has also worked as account director at Publicis Mojo and at award-winning independent London agency Isobel Advertising. Bucknall brings 12 years’ industry experience, having begun his career at M&C Saatchi, London.

Walker-Smith joins Leo Burnett from London, where he spent more than 13 years working in the industry, including four years as board account director at AMV BBDO, two as group director and new business director at Glue London and another two in a group director role with Grand Union.

His new appointment is a homecoming of sorts for Walker-Smith, who began his career with a five-year stint as account director at Leo Burnett London back in 2002.

The pair brings significant expertise gained leading account teams working on high profile clients. Bucknall has delivered results for big names including ALDI, Ferrero, MLA, Expedia, Weight Watchers, Kettle Chips, SAB Miller and the Conservative Party, while Walker-Smith counts multiple award-winning clients like The Economist, Pepsi Max, Doritos, Royal Bank of Scotland and the renowned Think! road safety campaign amongst his many client successes.

“The search for the best talent and the best fit for Leo’s was a global one that has delivered a great outcome,” said Amanda Quested, client services director, Leo Burnett Sydney.

“Our ever-evolving agency model and substantial growth created the opportunity to seek out the high calibre talents of James and Jonny to join Leo’s senior leadership. I believe past performance is the best indicator of future performance and both James and Jonny have brilliant track records of achievement, together with a huge appetite for ambitious, effective and innovative ideas.”




Please login with linkedin to comment

Outdoor Lions

Latest News

EMG/Gravity Media Names New Managing Director
  • Media

EMG/Gravity Media Names New Managing Director

The recently merged EMG and Gravity Media has appointed Scott Kinlyside as managing director of its Australian operations. Kinlyside will oversee strategic leadership, and operational and financial management in Australia and is the latest senior hire following CFO Warwick Lynch, chief transformation and M&A officer Stéphane Vermersch, chief commercial and strategy officer Sean Seamer and […]

Opinion: Shark Tank’s Sabri Suby Slams Politician’s Jumping On TikTok Ban Bandwagon
  • Opinion

Opinion: Shark Tank’s Sabri Suby Slams Politician’s Jumping On TikTok Ban Bandwagon

In this opinion piece Sabri Suby, founder and head of growth at King Kong, shares his opinion on speculation that the Australian government could ban TikTok. I’m not surprised some Australian politicians are jumping on the bandwagon as the US currently considers banning TikTok. Liberal senator James Paterson has said that the platform is unsafe […]

Veridooh Snatches Prashand Menon From ScentreGroup
  • Advertising

Veridooh Snatches Prashand Menon From ScentreGroup

Out-of-home OOH) and digital media leader Prashand Menon (lead image) has joined OOH ad tech company Veridooh as group business director within NSW and QLD. Menon joins Veridooh from his most recent role as ScentreGroup’s group business director and brings with him more than 10 years of experience in Australian media. Previously, he held positions […]

Kat & Co Transforms Into THE WORLD OF Experiential Agency
  • Advertising

Kat & Co Transforms Into THE WORLD OF Experiential Agency

After more than twelve years of producing experiences for some of the world’s most innovative brands, including Hermes, Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co, Kat & Co has quietly metamorphosed into THE WORLD OF. THE WORLD OF is an experiential agency at the juncture of culture, technology and the human condition. […]

SMG Studio Launches Risk: Global Domination X Dune Part Two
  • Campaigns

SMG Studio Launches Risk: Global Domination X Dune Part Two

Through a licensing agreement with Legendary Entertainment, SMG Studio inked the rights to adapt Dune: Part Two into a game based on Risk: Global Domination, Hasbro’s interactive board game. Inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic masterpiece, Dune: Part Two, this new digital adaptation, RISK: Global Domination X Dune: Part Two, is poised to captivate players from […]

QMS: Taylor Swift, Lunar New Year & Mardi Gras Were Boon For OOH Market
  • Marketing

QMS: Taylor Swift, Lunar New Year & Mardi Gras Were Boon For OOH Market

Taylor Swift, Lunar New Year and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival have had a dramatic impact on the number of people moving in and around Sydney over the past month, drawing big crowds into the heart of the city and its surrounding suburbs. New data from digital outdoor company QMS reveals a […]

Legend John McEnroe Joins Pepperstone’s Team Of Global Tennis Ambassadors
  • Marketing

Legend John McEnroe Joins Pepperstone’s Team Of Global Tennis Ambassadors

Tennis legend, former World No. 1 and seven-time grand slam singles champion John McEnroe has joined forces with Forex (FX) and Contracts for Difference (CFD) broker Pepperstone. Lead image: Tamas Szabo, Pepperstone Group CEO and John McEnroe McEnroe joins Australian and current World No. 9 Alex de Minaur in Pepperstone’s stable of stars, with the […]

LinkedIn Launches New Thought Leader Ads For Companies To Promote Member Posts
  • Advertising

LinkedIn Launches New Thought Leader Ads For Companies To Promote Member Posts

LinkedIn has announced the expansion of its Thought Leader Ads’ capabilities so advertisers can sponsor content from any member – not just employees – to enable brands to amplify a diverse range of influential, trusted, and expert voices and member posts on the platform. 73 per cent of decision-makers say that an organisation’s thought leadership […]

MKTG Launches PR & Talent Division Realigning Business Structure
  • Marketing

MKTG Launches PR & Talent Division Realigning Business Structure

Dentsu‘s MKTG Sports and Entertainment has unveiled a significant evolution, including the launch of a specialised PR and Talent Marketing division, investment in expanding its Creative Services group, and a centralised approach to brand and rights holder servicing with increased production capabilities and a strengthened in-stadium sports presentation team. Lead Image: MKTG CD Ross Allen; […]