Anomaly has opened a Paris office, extending the agency’s global network to one of the world’s most influential creative capitals. The opening complements Anomaly’s established presence in New York, Los Angeles, London, Toronto, Berlin, and Shanghai.

Mehdi Benali and Olivier Aumard, globally recognised leaders recruited from France’s top-tier agency landscape, will lead the operation as CEO and CCO, respectively, to uphold Anomaly’s ambition to bring its distinctive model, combining creativity, effectiveness, and entrepreneurialism, directly into the heart of EMEA. The pair will report to Anomaly co-founder, Carl Johnson, with Aumard also collaborating closely with Anomaly co-founder & global CCO, Mike Byrne, on matters of creative leadership and excellence. 

Anomaly’s French client roster already includes Danone and La Poste.

“Anomaly was founded with an awareness of the age-old observation that ‘to a man with a hammer every problem’s a nail.’ Consequently, we leverage the broadest definition of creativity, from product innovation to design to long-form content, in pursuit of effectiveness,” stated Carl Johnson. “This philosophy has driven our global expansion and now guides our next chapter as we grow our network across EMEA. Mehdi and Olivier are bold, unconventional thinkers who push against the boundaries that have the potential to inhibit our work; I have no doubt they will bring the best our network has to offer to the French market.”

Olivier Aumard is one of France’s most awarded creative leaders, with more than 200 international awards including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Clios, and Eurobest. Most recently executive creative director at BETC Paris, he led global brands such as Lacoste and Amazon during a period when WARC named the agency the world’s most creative. Aumard has also been recognised by Adweek’s Creative 100 and served as a juror for Cannes Lions and The One Show.

“To me, Anomaly is about exploring new territories,” Aumard stated. “It’s a world-class agency that challenges the status quo, blending diverse talents and influences while staying focused on creative business solutions, exactly how I want to approach every brief. I’m energized by the opportunity to merge Anomaly’s culture with the creative force of Paris and build something truly meaningful.”

Mehdi Benali also joins from BETC Paris, where he was managing director overseeing global clients including Citroën, Lacoste, and Decathlon, while driving agency growth and culture. Previously, he helped launch and scale Sid Lee Paris and has held senior roles at leading agencies including Fred & Farid, Grey, and BBH in London and Paris. His work has earned accolades from Cannes Lions, D&AD, Effie, Grand Prix Stratégies, Eurobest, and Clios, among other award shows.

“It feels like my previous experiences in Paris and London have led me to Anomaly: a global network with creativity at its core, a model based on finding the right answer beyond traditional advertising, and an agile structure made to disrupt the market,” Benali commented. “The agency’s track record and vision for the future precisely reflect what we want to bring to the French market. My ambition is to build the strongest possible version of Anomaly right here in my hometown.” 

With Anomaly Paris now open, Benali and Aumard begin in their new roles immediately. 

Cover image l-r: Olivier Aumard & Mehdi Benal