Creative agency Leo Burnett UK has appointed renowned strategist Ila De Mello Kamath as planning partner.
This appointment comes amid a period of growth for Leo Burnett UK’s strategy department, having recently added planning directors Rebecca Priest and Ipeknaz Erel.
In her new role, De Mello Kamath will lead strategy for Vodafone, drawing on her expertise in brand building and cultural influence. She joins the agency from Ogilvy, where she served as global strategy partner for the Dove account.
During her four years at Ogilvy, De Mello Kamath played a key role in shaping Dove’s global dialogue on toxic beauty.
She was behind the acclaimed Reverse Selfie campaign, which highlighted the harmful effects of selfie culture on young women. This campaign received numerous industry awards, including Cannes Gold, Effie Gold and an IPA Effectiveness award.
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Before her tenure at Ogilvy, De Mello Kamath was a board strategy director at AMV BBDO, where she emerged as one of the most celebrated planners in the UK.
She spearheaded the strategic development for major brands such as Guinness, the Met Police, UNICEF and Twinings and her work on the Met Police’s impactful Who Killed Deon? campaign, which addressed youth violence, earned three Gold IPA awards and was recognised as the most-awarded video of 2011.
De Mello Kamath’s career also includes roles as head of strategy at Brothers & Sisters and The Good Agency.
“Ila’s impressive track record speaks volumes – not just in terms of awards, but in her remarkable ability to craft strategies that connect brands with issues people genuinely care about,” said Tom Sussman, deputy chief strategy officer at Leo Burnett UK.
“Joining Leo Burnett UK is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a team that truly values the power of populist creativity,” De Mello Kamath said.
“Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to creating strategies that not only build brands but also resonate deeply with people and culture. I’m excited to bring my experience to Leo Burnett and help craft work that inspires and has a positive impact on the world.”
