URBAN Hires Strategy Director Simone Ellis

Independent experience agency URBAN has announced the appointment of strategy director Simone Ellis.

With over 15 years in the industry, she has worked as a consultant on client and agency sides with a number of the world’s leading brands, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Woolmark and I LOVE NY. She played a central role in the R&D and global marketing of Lovemarks, a celebrated brand manifesto that Advertising Age named as “one of the top 10 Ideas of the Decade.”

Here in Australia, Ellis has held senior roles at Droga5 (whose 4320 in LA campaign for Virgin Australia picked up a Gold Cannes Lion and a D&AD Yellow Pencil), Publicis Mojo, and Momentum.

URBAN co-founder and CEO, Gavin McDonough, says: “Simone is a formidable talent and individual. She brings deep experience and appreciation for the power of experience-led business and marketing.”

Ellis says: "URBAN is a dynamic company at the forefront of experience, one of marketing’s most exciting new frontiers. The team is committed to innovation and to leveraging immersive technologies that enhance the impact of experience on human behaviour. I'm excited to help shape the future here."

URBAN co-founder, Ryan McDonough added: “Even in the short time Simone has been with us, she’s already helped us accelerate toward some of our bigger business objectives. We look forward to sharing news of these successes in coming weeks.”

Image (left to right): Gavin McDonough, Simone Ellis and Ryan McDonough.