MRM UK chief creative officer and European chair Nicky Bullard has quit the agency after six years to join sister shop MullenLowe Group UK as group chief creative officer.
Bullard started her career in 1989 as a copywriter at Bilsland Coltman McKenna, before a spell at Ammirati Puris Lintas, which eventually became Lowe Lintas.
She joined McCann in 2016 from Lida (now M&C Saatchi), where she had spent more than 15 years, initially as head of copy before being promoted to executive creative director, working across both Lida and M&C Saatchi, succeeding Shaun Moran.
While at MRM, Bullard has led the creative output across its entire client portfolio, first working alongside CEO Paul Foot and then his successor Chris Pearce, who was appointed in 2019. He left late last year and was replaced by Rikke Wichmann-Bruun as UK group managing director. Former Proximity London executive creative director John Treacy leads the creative department.
Bullard was promoted to the additional role of European chair in January 2021 to bring the agency’s offices across Europe closer together. At the time, she said she could not wait to “get stuck in”. However, it seems the MullenLowe role is what is “exciting” now.
Bullard said: “I have learnt so much at the brilliant MRM over the last six years. But now it is my time to focus on what stirs my soul, pure creativity, and what a place to be doing that. MullenLowe Group offers an incredible opportunity to bring together the best of everything; with a brilliant team, an excellent client list and a boundaryless culture. It’s so exciting.”
In her new role, she will succeed Ewan Paterson, who is stepping down to spend more time with his family, and will lead the integrated creative output across advertising, customer experience, CRM, social, purpose and sustainability, and media.
Bullard joins in June and will work alongside chief strategy officer Ayesha Walawalkar and chief executive Jeremy Hine.
Hine said: “Nicky is someone who exudes positivity and drive, with an unrivalled belief in and understanding of multichannel 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.”
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