Bonfire has made two significant new appointments as part of its ambitious growth plans since joining the Ardmore Group. Nicola Wielopolski joins as Creative Director and Sinéad Lee joins as Growth Director.
With over 20 years’ experience in advertising, Nicola has worked at some of South Africa and Ireland’s top creative agencies, and has been recognised by Cannes, D&AD, New York Festivals, Clios and several national awards. A highlight includes a Cannes Silver for her Commission for Gender Equality campaign. She also earned one of only 12 seats on the Phyllis Project, a global creative initiative launched by DDB to increase the number of female creative leaders in the network.
Nicola brings a wealth of experience working on global brands such as McDonald’s, Honda, Smart Car, KFC, Converse and Skittles. Among her proudest work is the South African campaign that transformed Telkom, once one of the country’s most disliked brands, into one whose commercials were consistently ranked among South Africa’s most loved for three years running. Nicola’s approach is simple: strategic thinking, beautiful craft, zero waffle.
“There’s a real energy at Bonfire right now, and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and enthusiasm for great ideas to the team.”
Nicola Wielopolski, Creative Director, Bonfire.
In her new role, Sinéad will work closely with senior clients across Bonfire and the wider Ardmore Group, bringing her strategic and commercial experience to their broader business and marketing challenges. Drawing on the mix of expertise across the Group, she’ll put client growth at the heart of how those capabilities are brought together.
Sinéad brings more than 25 years’ experience in marketing and communications, spanning senior agency leadership, growth and brand strategy. Over the course of her career, she has played a senior role in building some of Ireland’s best-known brands and delivering award-winning work for clients including Diageo, Mars, Lidl, eir, EirGrid, Barry’s Tea, Pilgrim’s Foods and IDA Ireland. Her agency career has included senior leadership roles at BBDO Dublin and, most recently, TBWA\Ireland.
Sinéad Lee said:
“What attracted me to this role is the ambition behind what Bonfire and Ardmore Group are building together. It brings together the agility and entrepreneurial mindset of an independent group with a distinctive mix of specialist capabilities and talent.
“Bonfire is now powered by that wider expertise, allowing us to bring the right people and thinking together around client challenges from the outset. It’s a powerful combination, and I think we have a real opportunity to build something significant in the Irish market.”
Sinéad takes on the Growth Director role alongside her independent consultancy, Sinéad Lee Consultancy, through which she will continue to work directly with her own clients on marketing, brand and growth strategy.
The appointments come on the back of Ardmore Group’s strategic investment in Bonfire, establishing the only all-island agency proposition in the Irish market. The investment has bolstered the Ardmore Group with a dedicated creative team in Ireland, combining the Group’s established presence in Northern Ireland with Bonfire’s acclaimed creative and effectiveness reputation in the Republic of Ireland.