The Australian ad industry has lost another to the siren call of working overseas. Lu Borges has moved to the US to take up the newly created role of head of MullenLowe US brand and communications.

Borges was communications director at BMF from 2013, her role expanding in 2018 to include all of Enero – creative agency BMF, creative technology agency Orchard, and the Enero Group in Australia. She has led creative agency communications for sixteen years, with in-depth knowledge of developing and managing agency reputations, advertising award festivals, public relations, and new business activities. In the seven years prior, Borges was pivotal in building awareness and recognition for renowned Spanish agency, Shackleton (part of Accenture Interactive). And she is a fully qualified lawyer. She holds a master’s degree in community management, a certificate in business communication, a master’s degree in political action and international law, and a bachelor’s degree in law.    

At MullenLowe US, she will report to chief executive officer, Lee Newman, and will oversee the team responsible for all agency touchpoints, including agency communications, owned channel content, thought leadership, and internal communications. Borges will also lead the MullenLowe US awards and industry event strategies.

“Lu is an energetic, whip-smart, former attorney,” stated Newman. “She’s a gifted sax player who played with Kenny G and a brilliant linguist who translated for Hillary Clinton. A true renaissance woman. If she can do all that I can’t wait to see where she takes the MullenLowe brand. We are excited to centralize communications with one holistic approach managed by a single leader — and we’re even more excited that that leader is Lu.”

Borges arrives at MullenLowe following a surge of business growth, effectiveness and creativity. The Effies named it the most effective agency network over the past eight years, and MullenLowe Boston was the second-most effective agency in 2020 and 2021. It is now on a creative hot streak with the Corona campaign featuring Snoop Dogg and Bad Bunny out of LA, and the New York office’s buzzy Super Bowl teaser, for E-trade (which CNN has already claimed to be the Super Bowl winner).

“MullenLowe US’ trajectory and innovative approach to top-tier creative work is apparent from across the globe,” Borges stated. “I have been welcomed into an agency with not only incredible talent and potential but most importantly, with lovely human beings. I am incredibly excited to join the leadership team and to contribute to elevating MullenLowe’s creative product and culture across the US.”

Borges has a proven track record of building not only agency brands but fuelling culture and creativity. Before her eight years working for Australia’s most effective and creative agency BMF, she was pivotal in building awareness and recognition for renowned Spanish agency, Shackleton (part of Accenture Interactive). She holds a master’s degree in community management, a certificate in business communication, a master’s degree in political action and international law, and a bachelor’s degree in law.