Clemenger BBDO has lured Stephen de Wolf back to the agency as national chief creative officer, from BMF where he has been chief creative officer for just under a year.

de Wolf returns to the agency where he produced some of the most defining work of his career, including the Meet Graham campaign for the Transport Accident Commission, one of the most awarded campaigns in the world.

“This is the agency that defined me. Now I get to be part of the team redefining it,” de Wolf stated. “Coming back feels like coming home to the place where I’ve done some of my most meaningful work, with people who believe in creativity’s power to move culture and drive results.”

de Wolf will partner closely with CEO, Lee Leggett, to lead the agency’s next chapter. His appointment comes as Clemenger BBDO doubles down on its ambition to deliver end-to-end creativity and measurable business impact under its new Do Big Things positioning.

“Wolfie’s return is more than a hire, it’s a statement,” Leggett stated. “He’s not just a world-class creative. He’s someone who knows the heart of this agency and believes in what we’re building. His leadership will help shape the Clemenger of tomorrow.”

de Wolf has held senior creative roles in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, including leadership positions at DDB Australia as national CCO and global creative council member; Omnicom retail agency, Smith Street, as CCO; BBH London as partner, CCO and Global Creative Board member; and Clemenger BBDO Melbourne as CCO. His portfolio spans high-profile brands such as Samsung, Burger King, Tesco, McDonald’s Volkswagen, Western Union, Coles, Porsche, Westpac, Barclays, Audi, Volkswagen, Pernod Ricard, Perfetti and Airbnb. He has earned a reputation not just for breakthrough ideas, but for forging deep client partnerships that deliver results during his two decade career. His work at Clemenger helped the agency to become the first Australian agency to be named the most creative in the world at both D&AD and Cannes Lions. It has received some of the industry’s highest honours for both creativity and effectiveness, including a D&AD Black Pencil, multiple Cannes Lions Grand Prix, and the title of the world’s top-ranked Creative Director on the Cannes Lions Global Creative Index.

Stephen McArdle, CEO, BMF, stated, “Wolfie is a great creative leader who has helped us maintain the positive momentum we’ve built up at BMF in his short time with us. We’re disappointed he won’t be here to write the next chapter, but we wish him nothing but the best, as he takes on the challenge at Clemenger in three months’ time.

“Fortunately for us, we have an incredible creative department packed with world-class talent and strong creative leadership already in place. And as we move into a period of significant growth, we’ll be focused on enhancing that creative leadership with talent that shares our belief in enduring ideas that drive marketing effectiveness and fame for our incredible clients and their brands.”