Leanne Bird

Experience

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  Sign Centre

  Jan 2000 - Mar 2002

  Graphic Designer

  This was the start of Leanne’s career as a creative, and the beginning of her journey into the world of design. She designed layouts and then prepared the files for cutting of vinyls for exterior and interior signage for all the major business’ in and around Richards Bay and Empangeni. She quickly progressed to doing precision laser engraving for what became many clients preferred supplier of personalised corporate gifting.

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  Brolaz SA (Pty) Ltd

  May 2002 - Jun 2006

  Graphic Designer

  This was Leanne’s first job in Johannesburg, fresh out of her home town, Richards Bay. Here she got involved in everything she could to gain telecommunication experience. She developed a real passion for people at Brolaz. She spent her days designing and maintaining the company’s in-house marketing collateral for both print and digital. She also front end designed and maintained the Company Website and local intranet working with the I.T. department. She assisted HR in planning for all company events. Brolaz did turnkey solutions in the IT/Telecommunications industry. Show less

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  Visa Europe

  Mar 2008 - Oct 2008

  Project Implementation Consultant

  Leanne trained and qualified as a Project Implementation Consultant at VISA Head Quarters, Paddington (London). Here she worked on a broad range of global projects, initiating new and ongoing accounts and card ranges from brief to handover. She was responsible for the distribution of all the incoming project-related inquiries sent from local and international issuing and acquiring banks across Europe and CEMEA.

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  Brolaz SA (Pty) Ltd

  Oct 2008 - Jan 2009

  Project Coordinator

  Leanne contracted in Luanda, Angola, as the Project co-ordinator of local telecom projects in Angola. This involved project planning, project timelines, budget reviews, scope of work, reporting and administration.

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  Romano Group

  Feb 2009 - Mar 2011

  Senior Project Manager

  As a Snr Project Manager at Romano, a very well-known, established, Cape Town based, ‘Signage and Branding’ agency. She had a dual role, in both project managing and production management, producing work for BMW and MINI, Standard Bank, General Motors (Opel, Isuzu & Chevrolet), Barloworld (CAT) Equipment, Momentum, VW South Africa, Audi & Seat, Cell C and Pick n Pay.

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  Young & Rubicam

  Apr 2011 - Feb 2014

  Project Director, Shopper Marketing

  Leanne started her career in advertising in 2011, as Project Director for what’s know today as ‘Labstore.' Managing the ‘Shopper Marketing’ division she ensured the rollout of multiple campaigns, across different client industries (mostly FMCG & Pharmaceutical) which proved to be her best career decision, accelerating her growth and across, over and into ‘Above and below the line’ communications. She serviced a number of clients, the greatest being Colgate Palmolive, Adcock Ingram, LG Electronics and Jaguar Land Rover. She then transferred to Y&R’s sister agency, Base 2 Aqua, to secure the recently appointed digital business, being the clients trusted advisor. Show less

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  Base 2 Agency

  Mar 2014 - Jul 2016

  Client Service Director

  As the CSD, Leanne worked with a range of partner agencies (ATL, PR & Events, CRM & Lead Management and Experiential) on the Jaguar Land Rover and Virgin Atlantic Airways business’ to develop globally lead advertising campaigns. This included developing the project objectives and communication plans for rollout into SA & SSA. She worked very closely with her clients to understand their local business in order to generate locally relevant customer experiences, which often involved travelling throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. She also managed the ABSA business, working with internal, other agency divisions, as well as all third party suppliers for the timeous development, implementation and completion of all ABSA Wealth and Investment Management, and Corporate Investment Management, and Digital Channel projects. Show less

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  VMLY&R

  Aug 2016 - Aug 2022

  Integrated global project coordination and effectiveness Leanne leads and manages internal teams to work collaboratively with clients, partner agencies, and suppliers to create integrated functional effectiveness across core agency services.

  • Global Group Director

    Jan 2022 - Aug 2022

  • Business Unit Director and Tribe Leader

    Aug 2016 - Feb 2022
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  VML COMMERCE

  Sept 2022 - now

  Global Program Director, Commerce HQ

  • Streamlined processes and coordinated resources to drive Operational Excellence in digital commerce operations.• Aligned teams across regions to ensure smooth operations and enhance capabilities through Digital Transformation.• Focused on Community Engagement to foster a collaborative environment within the EMEA region and aligned regional objectives with global vision.