Clemenger BBDO Australia has officially announced the appointment of Stephen de Wolf as its new National Chief Creative Officer, marking the return of one of the country’s most acclaimed creative minds to the agency where he created some of his most iconic work.
De Wolf, who most recently served as Chief Creative Officer at BMF, brings over two decades of global experience, a powerful legacy of award-winning campaigns, and a profound connection to the Clemenger BBDO brand.
“This is the agency that defined me. Now I get to be part of the team redefining it,” says de Wolf. “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.”
His return signals a bold new chapter for Clemenger BBDO as it continues to evolve under its “Do Big Things” positioning, which focuses on delivering end-to-end creativity and measurable impact for clients. De Wolf will work closely with CEO Lee Leggett to lead the agency’s creative vision and growth across Australia.
“Wolfie’s return is more than a hire – it’s a statement,” says Leggett. “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.”
During his previous tenure at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, de Wolf led the development of the highly awarded “Meet Graham” campaign for the Transport Accident Commission, which became one of the most celebrated creative efforts in global advertising history.
Stephen McArdle, CEO of BMF, shared his well wishes:
“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.”
Throughout his career, de Wolf has held senior creative roles in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, including national and global leadership positions at DDB Australia, BBH London, and Omnicom’s Smith Street agency. He has been at the creative helm of campaigns for major global brands such as McDonald’s, Porsche, Volkswagen, Coles, Westpac, Airbnb, Mars, Audi, and Samsung.
His portfolio has earned him top industry accolades 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.
With this landmark appointment, Clemenger BBDO reinforces its commitment to delivering world-class creative work that drives cultural impact and tangible business outcomes.
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