BMF Promotes Aisling Colley & Richard Wood To GM Roles

Creative agency BMF has promoted its head of account management Richard Woods and deputy head of account management Aisling Colley, to the role of general managers, to continue the agency’s growth trajectory.

Colley has been at BMF for over 10 years, successfully climbing the ranks to deputy head of account management in 2020. For the past four years, Colley has led one of the industry’s most coveted accounts, ALDI. During this time, ALDI has gone on to win over 100 awards for creativity and effectiveness including a Grand Prix APAC Effie, Spikes Asia Grand Prix, Grand Australian Effie, Effies most effective advertiser three years running, as well as being crowned Australia’s most trusted brand in 2018.

In addition to her client work, Colley has been recognised at B&T’s Women in Media Awards, as well as being shortlisted at B&T’s 30 under 30 and Best of the Best Awards.

Woods, who was promoted to head of account management in 2020, joined the Enero Group over six years ago. During his tenure at BMF, Woods has delivered award-winning campaigns during his time at the agency, including winning won multiple Effies for TAL Life Insurance. He was also part of the team who created RMIT’s Sans Forgetica, which went on to take metal at some of the most prestigious award shows including winning a Cannes Lion and three gold pencils at AWARD. Plus, in 2018 he was one of only 30 to be selected for The Marketing Academy Australia.

Prior to joining the Group, Woods worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Nike, Schweppes, Reckitt Benckiser, Heineken and Mars Petcare, at agencies such as Naked, Momentum Worldwide and BD Network UK and Australia.

Stephen McArdle, CEO, BMF Australia, said: “Over their combined 16 years at BMF, Aisling and Rich have been integral to the growth of our business, our people, and our clients. They don’t just have the talent and heart to make incredible things happen, but they have the guts and kindness to keep building BMF and our culture.

“Clients and BMFers alike love working with Rich. He combines a phenomenal work
ethic with a reassuring calm and Northern English charm that makes everything better.
His experience delivering non-traditional creative solutions has been invaluable in driving
our success. Something the whole agency and more of our clients will benefit from in his new role.”

“Aisling is a force of nature. As well as working on, and leading, our biggest and most awarded account for an incredible ten years, Ais has been at the forefront of championing and reinvigorating the unique culture at BMF. She has always been destined to be an agency leader and we can’t wait to welcome her back from maternity leave to apply her formidable powers later in the year.”

Woods commented: “I’ve been lucky enough to work for two amazing companies within the Enero Group, and while the merger between BMF and Naked was always an exciting opportunity, I wasn’t expecting it to be the most enjoyable years of my career to date. I found an agency with values they truly demonstrate, a leadership team which balances ambition with empathy, and a team of amazingly talented people that cares so much about the work. I’ve loved every minute and long may it continue in this new role alongside Ais.”

Colley added: “I’m grateful to have been with BMF throughout most of its life and I have to say we’re in a time where it’s never been better. BMF continually produces world-class work, has a key focus for people development and happens to be home to some of the best humans on this planet. The fact we’ve taken home the Mumbrella Award for Best Culture two years in a row is testament to the type of brilliance we have brewing here at BMF. I’m absolutely thrilled to be appointed to General Manager and can’t wait to get stuck into it when I return later in the year.”

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aisling colley BMF Richard Wood