Dawson promoted to deputy creative director of Leo Burnett Sydney – reports to ECD DiLallo
CB Exclusive – On the back of his recent swoop of creative talent, Leo Burnett Sydney executive creative director Andy DiLallo has promoted award-winning creative Gary Dawson to the role of deputy creative director.
Says DiLallo (bottom row right): “Making Gary my deputy is a simple reflection of his commitment and passion to helping me make Leo Burnett Sydney a world leading creative agency. He’s worked tirelessly to help raise the bar across all our clients and his persuasive English charms can only help push us further.”
Says Dawson (bottom row left): “The last couple of years at Leo’s have been fantastic, but what excites me even more is the clear intent and ambition within the agency to press forward and find another creative gear.”
The announcement comes alongside the elevation of both Keiran Ots (top row left) and Tim Green (top row right) to creative director roles within the agency, alongside DiLallo’s latest hiring of Grant McAloon (top row centre) from DDB Sydney.

30 Comments
I love how every creative is ‘award-winning’.
Fill me in, what awards has he won out of curiosity?
nice one gary, well deserved.
Great creative, needs to be knocked off his pool playing pedestal though, reckon a re-match is long overdue.
Didn’t you PR this already?
Anyway, thanks for letting us know twice.
Truly one of the most talent and nicest creatives to work with – and No, I don’t work at Leos.
congrats gary, the beers are definitely on you!
He always wears such nice clothes.
Gary is unreal as he gives me freelance
Good one Gary. Your shout soon.
Get a job Clarkey.
You don’t “still got it”.
Nice one Gary, well deserved.
Nice one Gary, well done.
Only question over title. He is Deputy Creative Director but the others are Creative Director. Shouldn’t he be Deputy ECD?
1:12, you’re an idiot.
obviously you’ve won zip.
you get these positions because you are an award winning creative.
yep, you’re an idiot.
Congratulations Gary
Well Done
Yep 1:12 you are indeed an idiot – are you even in advertising? The fact Gary has been picking up various awards at most of the international and local shows for the past 15 years or so makes me think not! Good onya Gaz. You so richly deserve this.
Right on 5.59.
Feels like Gary got the short end of the stick over all the other “Creative Directors”
This smells like a transition plan – when does Di Lallo leave to go home?
It’s the only way they could afford it…….
Poor, 1.12pm, looks like he picked on the wrong guy because the following posts do seem to come from the same person me thinks.
Maybe I want to know what awards he’s won as well – is that allowed? I haven’t heard of him, so sorry.
11.00pm, You may not have heard of him, but you’ve probably heard of Andy DiLallo and Todd Sampson, do you really think they’d have appointed this guy if he wasn’t worth it?
so no awards then
My oh my there are a lot of CDs there. Do you join Burnetts as a Junior CD?
Hi, sorry for the delay, been out editing, but here’s a quick synopsis. Spent most of career in UK having fun and stuff. D&AD Silver nomination, in-book 4 times, invited to judge twice. British Television Awards- 3 Gold, 5 silver, 1 Bronze. Creative Circle Awards- 3 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze. Invited to Judge 6 times. Campaign Magazine UK-‘Campaign of the Year’. Caxtons- Winner. AWARD- Bronze, 2 finalists, Cannes- 3 finalists (still trying!), Clios-Silver, Adfest- Gold, 2 Silvers,2 Bronze. New York Festivals-Silver. Highlights? 2nd in school shortbread baking competition,1st in handwriting competition. 1st in futuristic space-age drawing competition. Proudest moment-Best Loo-Roll Snowman (under 5’s). x
That ought to do it.
The 80’s were a boom time for awards.
Keep your eye on the grey man, Mr Green.
Good on you Tim.
Gary at the top, makes my panties drop.
Seems Gary has a big head.
so bitter 3.14, so very bitter.
I know Gary – and there is no way that was him listing his awards.
He’s far too modest!
But regardless, whoever stuck up for him, the end result is the same: great guy, great (award-winning) creative.
Well done Gary.
Haway the lads.