Bullard steps down as IPG and Omnicom merger looms

MullenLowe’s group chief creative officer Nicky Bullard appears to be the latest casualty of the looming merger of IPG and Omnicom after stepping down from her role, which is being scrapped and replaced with “new creative leadership”.

Bullard, one of the most highly respective creatives in the industry, started her career as a copywriter in 1989 at Bilsland Coltman McKenna and in 1994 switched to Ammirati Puris Lintas (which eventually became Lowe Lintas).

In 2000, she joined Lida as head of copy, also working across M&C Saatchi and was soon promoted to ECD, a role she held for over a decade.

Over the years, Bullard has been president of the direct jury for both Cannes Lions and D&AD, and has judged the Cannes Titanium Lions. She was chair of the DMA’s Awards Council for two years and has advised charitable organisations such as Women for Women and for The Hope Collective, a collaboration between youth organisations and brands to change the conversation about young people.

In 2016, Bullard moved to MRM as chair and UK CEO, becoming the first creative woman to be named chair of a UK marketing agency; she was promoted to European chair in 2021 but left to join IPG’s Mullen Lowe in 2022.

At the time, MullenLowe Group CEO UK Jeremy Hine said: “Nicky is someone who exudes positivity and drive with an unrivalled belief in and understanding of multi channel communications. She is ambitious and straight talking with a proven track record of winning awards and propelling companies forward. Nicky oozes a refreshingly disruptive and entrepreneurial creative spirit, her energy is infectious. She completes our team perfectly.”

During her tenure, MullenLowe scooped new business from the Co-op, DHSS, Freemans, Invesco and The Children’s Society.

However, with the mega merger looming large, the new Omnicom Advertising Group is on a major cost cutting exercise, looking for savings of over $500m.

Omnicom chief John Wren has insisted IPG’s agency brands will be maintained “to drive growth”, and has stressed that job cuts will come from non-front line troops. Even so, over 3,000 jobs have already been axed.

Bullard said: “I joined MullenLowe London to turn around the reel, make the work truly integrated and up the agency’s creative reputation. Last year was a Cannes-winning year, a Clio-winning year, a Creative Circle-winning year. I’ve brought in some exceptional talent from around the world and helped our local talent thrive.

“I have had the joy of working with an excellent leadership team, as well as creatively leading all our biggest new-biz wins. Of course I am sad to leave, but I am also incredibly excited that my destiny is in my own hands.”

MullenLowe chairman Tom Knox said: “Nicky has brought tremendous drive and energy to improving the creative product at MullenLowe and made our ‘brandsocial’ promise of delivering big thinking with cultural impact a reality. We wish her the very best with her next chapter.”