Ahmed Tilly is super-excited to be ‘coming back home’

FCB JOBURG has taken a strategic decision to bolster its product by bringing the highly respected Ahmed Tilly into the agency to partner executive creative director, Jonathan Deeb, in a joint chief creative officer leadership team.

Making the announcement, FCB Africa’s group CEO and group chief creative officer, Brett Morris, said the decision was on the back of FCB Joburg’s outstanding growth, having more than doubled in size over the past three years.

He said that Deeb, executive creative director of the agency since July 2013, had been pivotal in driving both creative excellence and new business. Tilly, the co-founder and executive creative director of Black River FC, has also been creative director at The Jupiter Drawing Room Cape Town and TBWA.

“In light of FCB Joburg’s growth, Jonathan has been looking for a partner to share the creative leadership with him and continue producing iconic work that builds South Africa’s favourite brands with value, scalability and real integration. We couldn’t ask for a better creative talent than Ahmed to help us on that journey,” said Morris.

“This formidable new partnership will be responsible for the overarching creative vision of the agency, driving transformation and developing young talent,” he said. “Ahmed is an industry leader known for his integrity, creative vision and for being a genuine human being,” said Deeb. “I’ve loved working with him in the past and I believe that the creative chemistry we have will build on the agency’s existing successes, and propel us to even greater heights.”

Tilly, who will be joining forces with Deeb on November 1, added: “I started my career at Lindsay Smithers FCB 20 years ago. It just feels right to be returning to the place where it all began.

“I’m so excited about starting a whole new chapter in my life, and who better to do it with than old friends?” – Staff Reporter