Toby Allen Joins The&Partnership as Executive Creative Director

Independent agency network The&Partnership has announced that the award-winning executive creative director, Toby Allen will be joining them to head up the London creative department. Reporting into CEO, Sarah Golding, Allen will guide the creative output of the agency for all existing clients, including Argos, Pets at Home, British Gas, Wella and Natwest, and will oversee the day-to-day running of the department. 

Joining from AMV BBDO where he and former creative partner Jim Hilson led the five-year transformation of the Libresse/Bodyform account, as well as overseeing Tena, Martini, Sure and Facebook Portal. Responsible for some of the most awarded campaigns of the last two years including Viva la Vulva, Wombstories and Addresspollution; under his creative leadership the brand has smashed taboos and shaped culture, removing social stigma and overturning decades of advertising convention.

The bravery, craft and effectiveness of the work he's led has been recognised globally; with six Grand Prix and three consecutive Titanium Lions at Cannes, three Black Pencils including Craft Pencil of the Decade at D&AD, and over 30 other Grands Prix around the world in everything from Integrated, Film, Digital, Use of Data, Craft, Creative Strategy and Creative Effectiveness. He and Hilson were No 1 Creative Directors in the Global Creative Rankings in 2019, and No 3 Creative Directors at Cannes 2020/21.

At AMV BBDO, Toby and Jim reshaped the agency’s placement scheme to encourage greater creative diversity, and mentor’d D&AD’s diversity programme. In 2018 their efforts were recognised by Management Today, naming them alongside FTSE 100 CEOs as 'Agents of Change' for workplace equality.

Of the move, Toby Allen, executive creative director, The&Partnership London said “AMV is a very special place and I am proud of all that Jim and I achieved there. But having climbed the mountain I was looking for a new challenge. The&Partnership is buzzing with momentum and fizzing with entrepreneurial energy. If I can help harness that into the creative output we will create something very special. Entrepreneurial creativity feels right for the times; and I am confident we can deliver it in spades.”

Allen’s appointment means that he will be taking over the duties of both Micky Tudor and Yan Elliot; both have new roles within the business. Micky Tudor has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer where he will concentrate on maintaining key client relationships and steering pitches. Yan Elliot has been appointed to a new group ECD role that will work across The&Partnership Group; this role will see him providing additional creative input, globally, to deliver innovative, inspiring and effective creative solutions. 

Sarah Golding, chief executive officer and partner, The&Partnership said: “Toby is a truly exceptional creative - the best of the best globally - and we’re beyond proud that he will be joining us. Both Micky and Yan will remain with us, but in exciting new roles. It’s a thrilling time for us here at The&Partnership; we’ve seen huge growth in the last year, during the most trying of times, but as an agency and a collective of people, we’ve come out stronger and with ever more creative ambition to propel the agency forward. I have no doubt in my mind that Toby will help us to attract an unfair share of the best and most diverse talent out there and ensure we deliver more award-winning work for our clients.”