Alison Tilling departs BMF to take on strategy role at VMLY&R
BMF’s head of planning, Alison Tilling, has departed the agency to take on a new strategy role at the recently merged agency, VMLY&R.
Tilling, who is expected to take a lead strategy role at VMLY&R, had been with Enero Group’s BMF for 10 years.
Tilling has left BMF where she was head of planning
WPP merged two of its biggest brands, creative agency Y&R and digital agency VML to create VMLY&R, in September.
At the time of the merger, the holding group announced Y&R’s CEO, Pete Bosilkovski and VML’s CEO Aden Hepburn as joint-CEO’s of the combined company.
A spokesperson from WPP said in a statement: “VMLY&R can confirm former BMF head of planning Ali Tilling has joined the agency.
“Her title will be confirmed in 2019 along with the broader management structure and other details of the newly combined agency, which are still being established as part of the merger process announced last month.
“Joint leaders Aden Hepburn and Pete Bosilkovski said they were excited to have someone with Ali’s proven and established experience join the team.”
Mumbrella understands Tilling was brought on board to join Y&R before the merger was announced.
According to Tilling’s LinkedIn, she is currently the “chief strategy officer at Y&R Australia”.
Christina Aventi, executive planning director at BMF, added: “Alison Tilling is one of the best planners in Australia and we’re lucky to have had her for 10 years in the BMF strategic department.
“Her legacy is the incredible contribution she’s made to the ALDI Australia business.
“We always promote growth from within and sometimes an opportunity for further growth exists elsewhere. She’ll always remain a dear friend of BMF. We wish her well.”
Tilling’s appointment comes three months after Y&R’s planning director, Michael Hyde joined Cummins & Partners as head of brand strategy.
Meanwhile, earlier this month Y&R’s chief creative officer, Paul Nagy, was named CCO of VMLY&R.
Please give her more credit….Ali’s role will be ‘Chief Strategy Officer Australia’
didn’t Y&R recently hire a new head of strategy?
yes – Ali is national and the other new hire is for Sydney
Hi Promoter her please and news…
WPP AUNZ’s official statement, which is in the story, says: “”Her title will be confirmed in 2019 along with the broader management structure and other details of the newly combined agency, which are still being established as part of the merger process announced last month.”
Hope that clarifies the reporting on her position.
Paul Wallbank
News Editor
Call her what you want, Ali will always be the smartest in the room.
Great hire, VMLQWERTYWTFY&R!
🙂 Can’t wait to see what happens! @KGB we have all the letters at VMLHEIXNPVY&R!