Clemenger BBDO hires Stuart Bailey as chief media officer following PHD departure

Just a week after announcing his departure from PHD Australia, Stuart Bailey has taken on a new role with Clemenger BBDO as chief media officer.

Bailey, who spent 12 years across OMD and PHD, said he was incredibly proud of his work at both agencies.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly amazing people over the years, and I wish PHD and OMG continued success in the future,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

He now joins Clemenger BBDO to help accelerate the agency’s integrated creativity-and-media model, bringing more than 20 years’ experience across the UK and Australia. At PHD, he was chief operating officer, and his career includes senior roles at Omnicom Media Group and work on brands including McDonald’s, Unilever, Telstra, PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, ANZ, Virgin Australia, VW and Village Roadshow.

Bailey is also a well-known industry advocate, serving as chair of the MFA Interactive Committee and co-creating the Australian Digital Advertising Practices with the IAB, MFA and AANA. He led the development of the MFA Digital Foundations exam, completed by more than 1,000 professionals nationally, and received the inaugural MFA Industry Contribution award.

Clemenger BBDO CEO Lee Leggett said Bailey’s appointment strengthens the agency’s integrated model.

“Stu is an exceptional leader and operator who understands the power of creativity and media working together,” Leggett said. “His experience, vision and values make him the perfect person to help us bolster our integrated, modern agency model.”

Bailey said media is “a critical piece of the puzzle” in shaping how creativity is experienced and how ideas drive business outcomes.

“I’m looking forward to helping build a connected, strategic and high-impact model that delivers across the entire customer journey,” he said.

His appointment follows the recent hires of Stephen de Wolfe as chief creative officer and Suzanne Croxford as chief experience officer, alongside new business wins including Kmart and Colorbond Steel.