Rob has spent thirty-five odd years in the South African advertising industry as the creative leader and as a director of agencies such as Lowe Bull, JWT, FCB and Net#workBBDO.
All of these agencies have consistently been ranked in the top 3 creatively awarded agencies in South Africa during his tenure. Rob started King James II as a co-founder and creative partner in 2013. King James II was ranked as the top medium-sized agency in 2018.
In 2019, he initiated SoloUnion in South Africa, a provider of big strategic and creative ideas and solutions for local and global brands.
He has been ranked in the top 4 creatives in South Africa by the Creative Circle for the last 15 years and voted three times as its top creative.
He has accumulated two Cannes Lion Grand Prix, a collection of over 40 Cannes Lions and has accrued assorted Loerie Grand Prix and golds, Creative Circle Ad of the Years, One Show’s, Clio’s, and D&AD pencils, and is one of the most awarded creatives in South Africa.
He served as chairperson of the South African Creative Circle (2007/2008) and served on its executive committee for 16 years. He has judged and chaired many international award festivals; the Cannes Lion festivals three times, once as President, twice at D&AD, also at the Dubai Lynx awards, chaired the Clio awards and was South Africa’s first home-grown Jury President at the Cannes Lions.
He was chairperson of the Kenyan IPA awards in 2018. He sat on the Loeries executive committee for 6 years and has judged the Loeries for 15 years, most recently as chairperson of the print and poster category in 2020 and the film category in 2021. He has served three times on the Apex judging panel. He is a member of the Cannes Chimera which is a collaboration between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Cannes Lions.
In his parallel life, Rob has spent his life as a musician, composer, and songwriter. Firstly, as singer and guitarist for the legendary cult band No Friends of Harry, producing 5 albums, and more recently as a solo artist and with bands Doris and Momo. His latest project, A MILLION WAYS TO DIE, is due for release this April. The first single, ‘The Veneer’, is out now on all digital platforms.
He is also the co-owner of the Anvil Brewery in Dullstroom, South Africa.
You can find Robert all over the internet
Facebook: @ Robert Mc Lennan, @ Momo band, @ Anvil Ale brewery, @ No Friends of Harry, @ NO FRIENDS OF HARRY - long live the great south african rock gods
Instagram: @robmclennan, @amillionwaysto die, @anvilale
Twitter: @mclennan02
LinkedIn: Rob Mc Lennan
