Bob McIntosh returns to digital ECD role at Host as Leslie Ali takes the ECD gig at The Jamboree

Host, Sydney today announced two new senior creative roles with Bob Mackintosh returning to the agency as digital executive creative Director and Leslie Ali joining creative partner, The Jamboree as its first executive creative director.

The Jamboree launched in September last year as an independent creative group with the mandate of developing integrated ideas with a digital DNA.  The team included both Mackintosh and David Smith as creative directors along with a team of ten.

Mackintosh, who initially joined Host in 2005 as a founding member of its digital line up, will return to Host after 10 months at The Jamboree with the mandate to develop world class digital campaigns.

Says Host CEO Anthony Freedman: “Under Bob’s creative leadership Host irrefutably established itself at the forefront of digital creative work in Australia. We want to reinstate that winning formula to ensure we maintain this position.”

Says Mackintosh: “I have enjoyed my time at The Jamboree but it feels that digital excellence is more important than ever and still remains elusive to so many agencies. I am keen to press our advantage in this space by returning to a digital focus overseeing all the digital work that Host does.”

Ali will take over leadership at The Jamboree after two years as a creative director at Three Drunk Monkeys. During that time she has led work across clients including IKEA, Telstra and Google.

Ali started her career as an art director at Wieden & Kennedy, Portland working with clients including Nike and Coca-Cola. This was followed with roles as a creative director at DDB London and ECD at WCRS. After going back to film school in New York, Ali began directing full-time in 2005, represented for commercial and film work by Partizan London.

Says Host chief strategy officer, Olly Taylor: “Leslie is the perfect person to lead The Jamboree because she has a creative diversity that we love in our creative partners. She’s a writer, art director, director and creative leader and has the experience we need to take The Jamboree to the next level.

Says Ali: “Being given the chance to build a different kind of creative offering in Sydney is a rare and exciting proposition – especially one founded on the principles of supporting people’s talents and passions. My goal is to make brands shine by creating a home for talented mavericks. I can’t wait to get started.”