Nils Leonard

Nils has spent over 20 years in the advertising and design industry working across some of the most recognised brands and agencies in London. In his previous role, as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Grey LDN, Nils oversaw the most profitable and awarded years in the agency's 52 years history and became one of the youngest agency chairmen in the world leading its key brands globally and locally.
Nils was voted into Adweek's coveted Creativity 100 and was named the No.1 creative person in advertising globally by Business insider, is on the advisory group of The Royal Academy and is listed as one of the Sunday Times 500 most influential people in the UK.
Over the last five years Nils has led the inception and launch of the ethical capsule coffee brand Halo to global acclaim. British GQ describing the Nespresso alternative as ‘The coffee company keeping George Clooney up at night.’
Nils is also the founder of the fastest growing startup in advertising history, Uncommon Creative Studio alongside Lucy Jameson and Natalie Graeme, a creative studio building brands that people in the real world actually wish existed. Labelled as ‘the creative company for leaders and founders in a moment of change’ as well as launching their own brands, Nils has creatively led awarded and stand-out work across a breadth of brands locally and globally. Each with something powerful to say; from creating a free suit hire initiative for H&M globally to help young men find work, to redefining what Nike Jordan means today launching during the 23’ NBA All-Star Weekend through the eyes of an aspiring female baller to designing a new brand identity, logo and vision for the world’s biggest game EA Sports FC.
Nils has also championed creativity across titles such as Monocle, Contagious, Design Week and British GQ. As well as leading the Industry Craft track as Jury President at last year's Cannes Lions.