VML has appointed Ryan McManus as its UK chief creative officer. McManus moves across the Atlantic from VML North America where he has been chief creative officer. previously he was chief creative officer of VML South Africa for five-and-a-half years.

At VML North America, McManus led creative for one of WPP’s largest clients, Ford, as well as leading on Virgin Voyages, Miami Tourism and BIC. During his time there, Ryan created culturally impactful, award-winning work, with recent highlights including the launch of the multi-award-winning Blue-Cruise campaign for Ford – winning Gold and Best in Show at NYF – and JEN AI, an AI version of Jennifer Lopez for Virgin Voyages which amassed over two billion earned media impressions.

At VMLY&R South Africa for five years he oversaw the merger of VML and Y&R to a full-service integrated agency and led it to creative and commercial success. 

McManus’ work has won hundreds of awards across almost every global award show, including Gold Cannes Lions, D&AD, NYF, One Show, ADC, and Loeries. He has been a regular judge at global award shows, including Cannes Lions. Ryan was listed in Mail & Guardians Top 200, The Media Magazine’s Top 40 under 40, and was invited to sit on the Creative Circle EXCO Board.