TBWA\London Appoints Melody Sylvester as Chief Production Officer

TBWA\London has hired acclaimed multi-award-winning producer Melody Sylvester. Joining as Chief Production Officer, Melody will work in partnership with chief creative officer Andy Jex and form part of the senior leadership team.  

Melody is passionate about craft and has been hired to help give superpower to the agency's creative product. By embedding production into the start of the creative process, Melody and Andy will elevate the process and the output. Tasked with creating integrated creative production teams that can work across any area of the creative process, she will utilise her established relationships to build creative partnerships in London and across the global network.

With more than 25 years in the creative industry, Melody has worked at a wide range of creative agencies and production companies including Mother, Nexus and Ridley Scott Associates. Over that time she has produced for award-winning directors Smith & Foulkes and Shynola.

She joins the TBWA team from House 337 (formerly Engine) where as Head of Film, she managed Sky, Warburtons, Money Supermarket, Churchill and Green Flag. Engine had a long-established relationship with charities Born Free, Women’s Aid and Alzheimer's Society.

Melody led the production team behind their most recent work for The Kiyan Prince Foundation, which raised huge amounts of donations and awareness for the youth work of Dr Mark Prince OBE and garnered a Cannes Lions Titanium Grand Prix for Engine in June 2022.

As a strong leadership character Melody strives for inclusivity within ad land and champions emerging talent in front of and behind the camera. She has recently Chaired the Inaugural jury for The Young Arrows Awards for Emerging Talent that took place at the BFI this month. She is committed to supporting young people in the workplace and providing them with real opportunities within the industry. 

TBWA London CPO, Melody Sylvester, said: "I have long held the belief that production requires a seat at the leadership table. It makes for better creative output and a more rewarding experience for all of those involved from the client to the on-set runner. Larissa, Andy and I share a love of making great work and I am super excited to be working with them and the entire leadership team at Bankside. Their ethos of ‘disruption’ resonates with me completely. Can’t wait to get started."

Andy Jex, CCO at TBWA London, said: "The partnership between creative and production is fundamental to making great work. Clients spend so much money on production but don’t ever get to talk to a producer. Melody will allow us to create properly integrated production teams that are as comfortable doing agency production as they are line production. Her track record on campaigns such as the Kiyan Prince shows that if you take a different approach to production you can create something totally new and exceptional.” 

Larissa Vince, CEO at TBWA London, said: “If there was anyone who personifies our reclaimed version of Disruption, it is Melody - an absolute force in the industry who constantly strives to do things differently and do things better. We can’t wait to have her on board.”