Ogilvy UK has appointed executive creative directors, Johnny Watters and Angus George, who have been with the agency for thirteen years. Camilla Clerke has been promoted to ECD of advertising, brand and content. She has been with Ogilvy in South Africa and then London since 2021. Jules Chalkley has become creative chair of the group’s boutique agency, New Commercial Arts. He joined Ogilvy UK in 2018.

The new creative leadership structure reflects its borderless approach to the full mix of modern marketing, giving clients even more access to the agency’s full range of talent and expertise. Watters, Geroge, Clerke and Chalkley will all bring expertise across the full spectrum of modern marketing, from massive multi-platform integrated thinking, to the craft of sustained emotional brand building, to earned PR, social and cultural influence.

Jules Chalkley is New Commercial Arts’ first creative chair. He will report into CEO, Hannah White, and work closely with executive creative directors, Dan Seager and Steve Hall, as well as chief creative officer and founder, Ian Heartfield, who is reducing his working days. Chalkley is one of the most awarded creatives globally and has been instrumental in defining Ogilvy’s modern creative offering. He has led winning pitches for the agency and shaped some of its most culturally relevant campaigns, including the Mayor of London’s seminal anti-misogyny campaign Have a Word, which won both a Cannes Glass Lion and a D&AD White Pencil.

Watters and George will restructure the agency’s creative offering to make it a deliberate collision of different disciplines, mindsets and experiences. They will draw on their broad-ranging experience that includes helping to develop global multiplatform partnerships for Fanta and The Coca-Cola Company as part of WPP Open X, end-to-end brand thinking with Scandinavian Airlines, setting the standard for fan engagement with Formula 1 and leading a groundbreaking AI experiment with Lloyds Bank.

Clerke will lead creative within Ogilvy UK’s advertising, brand & content using  her creative depth and brand-building expertise, with a strong digital, culture and social-first perspective.

Camilla’s work, including shaping Dove’s global Real Beauty platform, Castle Lager’s Bread of the Nation, combines long-term brand thinking with creativity that lives beyond advertising.

Charlie Coney will continue in his role as creative and strategy officer for Ogilvy PR, social and influence.

Watters and George commented, “These days, the best work rarely comes from one source. It comes from genuine creative collaboration across different disciplines that take real craft to master. That’s the excitement for us. At Ogilvy UK we have a breadth of talent and depth of expertise most agencies can only dream of. Our job is to unlock that potential as a single creative force for our clients.”

Camilla Clerke stated, “It takes a village to make something iconic. Different minds, different talents, one shared ambition to make work that moves people and moves brands forward. At Ogilvy, we have the creative firepower to make that happen. Because price might get you onto the shelf, but iconic creativity gets you chosen, day after day.”

Jules Chalkley commented, “Ogilvy is an iconic and important brand in the in the creative landscape, I’m incredibly proud to have been part of the wins, the work and the creative culture we’ve built over the last few years. Equally, I’m excited to continue the pursuit of creative excellence with the mega talented and fun crew at NCA and the world-class brands they work with.”

James Murphy, CEO, Ogilvy UK, added, “We are passionate about our borderless way of working across different skills and talents. Johnny, Angus, Camilla, Charlie and Jules all embody that open and energetic approach to creativity. We’re as big in influencer and social, if not bigger, than in the established areas Ogilvy is known for. This team are the brilliant creative collaborators that will build on that modern momentum.”