Leo Burnett Australia has announced that Emma Montgomery will return to the agency in the role of CEO for Leo Burnett Sydney.

Montgomery was previously the head of strategy at Leo Burnett Sydney, before moving overseas with the company to serve as president and chief strategy officer in Chicago.

She then departed Leo Burnett entirely and has most recently worked as the global co-chief strategy officer for TBWA/Worldwide, based out of Los Angeles. Prior to her time at Leo Burnett, Montgomery spent 16 years with Starcom in roles including a strategic planner, national research director and strategy director, and also worked at SMG as global product director.

Leo Burnett Australia CEO, Melinda Geertz, said she is “thrilled” that Montgomery is “coming home” to Sydney.

“Emma’s a uniquely talented leader. She has deep and diverse experience – across creative, media, data and CX disciplines – and I have so much respect for her ability to open up new ways of thinking and challenge the status quo.

“Emma is a world-class leader, and we’re all excited to welcome her home and re-introduce her to our company, our people and our clients.”

Montgomery said the Australian marketplace needs creativity like “never before”.

“I can’t wait to get back to Australia and re-join Leo’s at a time when the entire marketplace has never needed creativity more. Everyone is grappling with so much change, and this opens up exciting new opportunities for the clarity that the Leo Burnett approach can bring to navigate a fresh way forward.

“I am looking forward to diving in alongside Melinda, Jason (Williams), Andy (Fergusson) and the talented Sydney team as we write the next chapter of a company I love.”