Aussie expat Scott McClelland set to depart ECD role at BBH Singapore to return to Australia

After being involved with the BBH network for nearly 20 years, including five years in his latest stint in Singapore, current ECD Scott McClelland is to return to his native Australia at the start of 2017. Joakim Borgström, better known as Jab, joins from BBH London, where he is group creative director.

McClelland (left) has helped the agency further establish itself on the global stage, most notably coming runner-up in Ad Age’s International Agency of the Year 2015, with Scott named as one of Creativity’s Top 50.

He has been involved in much of the great recent actions in the office, from the quality of outputs, to the growth and diversity of its offer, talent and client base.

Says McClelland: “I came back to BBH for a year and stayed for five. I consider myself to have had the most amazing job with the most amazing people in the most amazing agency. It’s been lots of work/fun/sweat/tears/laughs but now I’m going surfing.”

Prior to BBH, Borgström (left) held a number of leadership roles, including Creative Director/Director of Innovation at Goodby Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy, Amsterdam, Creative Director and Partner at DoubleYou, Barcelona. Borgström is a rare mix of Swedish and Argentinean, speaks five languages and has worked in four countries to date. He has worked on brands as diverse as Nike, Audi, Electronic Arts, Coca-Cola, Google, Doritos, Barclays, Heineken, Chevrolet and on recent award-winning campaigns at BBH for Mentos, The Guardian and Samsung.

Borgström is the winner of over 170 awards that include 11 Cannes Lions and a Cannes Grand Prix. He’s sat on the jury of 20+ award shows and is a sought-after speaker in the industry.

Says John Hadfield, CEO, BBH Singapore: “It’s a great shame to see Scott go. He’s been transformational for us. And for this we owe him huge thanks. Given his talents and long term relationship with BBH, we are sure to work with him again. In the meantime, we’re all very jealous of his future life in Byron Bay. Scott set us a challenge: to find someone that can have an even greater impact on the Agency than himself. Some ask. We are very lucky that Jab has chosen to join us. His career is stellar, simply one of the best in the business. He’s won everything, transformed the digital agenda in the best agencies, and even with all of this, he’s a truly wonderful person. It is testament to Scott’s legacy and BBH Singapore’s success that has brought us a world-class talent such as Jab.”

Says Borgström: “This is one of those life changing opportunities that I couldn’t say no to. I’m​ really impressed with the work that has come out of BBH Singapore. Currently one of the hottest places in our network, I can’t wait to start sweating like a black sheep.”

McClelland with be relocating to Australia at the start of 2017, with Borgström involved in the Singapore business from November 2016.