Ben Welsh, creative leader, strategic thinker, problem solver, lover of wine.
A few comments on Campaign Brief
“I spent 4 years working with Ben at DDB and I can honestly say that he is one of the smartest, sharpest and nicest people I’ve ever worked with.”
“It’s rare to find a driving force who’s happy to let others have the spotlight. What you did to help change the industry during your time at DDB didn’t go unnoticed.”
“Said he would come in, build DDB back up (post Telstra) and leave it for the next gen of leaders. And he has done exactly that. So many people in this industry have Ben Welsh to thank for discovering and/or nurturing their talent.”
“He won awards, won big clients, didn’t lose any big clients and hired particularly well over his 5 year tenure. Not much more a CCO can do.”
About Ben
Titles are funny things. I have often thought that CCO is a strange title, and I’ve always had trouble introducing myself as one.
When I reflect on what I have done well over the last decade or so, I think I might be more of a Chief Growth Officer. Or a Chief People Officer. Or a Chief Culture Officer. At the heart of it, I’m about people and ideas, and bringing out the best to grow the business.
2016 – 2021
Best of the Work
I grow culture
I leave a better agency than the one I joined. Confidence without arrogance and much better integration. I think I can safely say this is true of both M&C Saatchi and DDB.
I grow people
‘Hire people who are better than you are, and then leave them to get on with it’.
No, it’s not Bernbach, it’s Ogilvy, but nonetheless, it’s been my approach. Empowering people helps them grow, and it’s a great way to retain talent. I am proud to have developed numerous careers: from junior creatives to senior, from writers to ECDs, from CDs to CCOs…. I’ve lost count of how many.
I grow ideas
Building brand platforms and solving business problems is our bread and butter. And I love bread and butter.
Which helps grow business
Over the last five years DDB Australia has won over $30m of new business, including - consolidating the McDonald’s account, Coles, Kmart, Dulux, J&J, Netflix, Virgin Australia, Foxtel, Linkedin, Red Cross.
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Awards
Most of this work has won awards, from Award, to Cannes and D&AD.