Ex BMF ECDs Carlos Alija and Laura Sampredo land CD roles at Wieden + Kennedy London
CB Exclusive – Wieden + Kennedy London has snared former BMF Sydney executive creative directors Carlos Alija and Laura Sampedro – who left Australia late last year after a two year stint – as creative directors. They will work across a variety of the agency’s portfolio of brands and commence work immediately.
Husband and wife team Carlos & Laura arrive at Wieden+Kennedy London following a two-year stint in Australia as executive creative directors at BMF Sydney. They have been credited for playing a key role in the agency’s creative turnaround, as well as helping the shop’s main client ALDI reach record sales through a series of award-winning campaigns.
Before joining BMF, they made their mark on the Spanish and Latin American markets developing local and global work at Y&R, LOWE, TBWA, McCann Erickson, Publicis and BBDO. During almost six years at Señora Rushmore, one of WPP´s most interesting creative boutiques, their contribution helped the agency achieve top ranking in creativity and effectiveness five years in a row. A career highlight for the pair is winning the global pitch for the International Olympic Committee during Beijing´s 2008 games.
Their work has been recognized by many leading advertising awards including Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clio Awards and Effies. During their sixteen years in the industry they have worked across many categories for brands including Coca-Cola, Renault, ING, San Miguel Brewers, Diageo, Telefonica, ALDI, Unilever and Pepsico by doing what they enjoy most: solving problems.
Says Alija: “We couldn’t be more excited to join W+K London. It has not only created an amazing body of outstanding work but also the best culture for this to happen in. Tony and Kim’s bear hugs are a bonus too. We come here with humbleness, reverential respect and a huge amount of passion to produce the best work of our lives.”
Says Tony Davidson, ECD of Wieden+Kennedy London: “The Spanish seem to be good at tennis, football and golf, so I thought why not advertising? We are always on the lookout for talented folks that solve business problems in original ways, and Carlos and Laura fit that bill. Also, I don’t know why, but I’m just into hiring married couples at the moment.”
2 Comments
Granted they did do some very interesting stuff with Aldi, but I think “playing a key role in the agency’s creative turnaround” is taking it a bit far. Few would argue that BMF wasn’t a better agency prior to their tenure.
BMF doesn’t realise what they lost by letting ’em go. Larga vida a los españoles.