About us

On March 18, John 'Jack' Clemenger opens 'John Clemenger Advertising' in the basement of the Lombard's building on Bourke Street, Melbourne. John's son, Peter, works with the company from day one - on a starting salary of eight pounds per week. The agency starts as a radio production house producing a stream of live programs, and coincidentally, commercials for program sponsors. The business is more frequently referred to as 'Clemenger Productions' during this time.

On April 1, 'John Clemenger Limited' is incorporated under the Companies Act (1938). Clients during this time include Darrods Style Store, Kia-ora canned foods, London Baby Carriages, Guests Biscuits and Griffiths Sweets.

In May, John Clemenger Advertising expands, opening an office in Sydney with the initial purpose of providing further resources to Melbourne client Kia-ora. The office makes losses for more than 25 years but never closes down.

The Melbourne office moves premises to the old boarding house known as Oxford Chambers at 473 Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Peter Clemenger moves to Sydney for a year, before spending 18 months overseas and returning to the company in Melbourne in 1952

Jack Clemenger's younger son, John, joins the agency.

John is sent overseas to the United States to learn about television, which is coming soon to Australia. John gets a diploma at the New York School of Television.

Jack Clemenger is elected President of the Advertising Association of Australia.

Variety show 'In Melbourne Tonight', hosted by Graham Kennedy begins airing five nights a week. A great relationship is formed between the program and the Clemenger agency, which recognises Kennedy's talent for working with products during live commercials. Tobacco company, Godfrey Phillips, appoints the Clemenger agency to launch its new products, Viscount Cigarettes. The brand takes off, soon becoming the number-three best seller in Australia and subsequently, one of Clemenger's largest clients - at one stage holding over 40% of the agency's business.

In October, Clemenger expands to Brisbane and opens its third office. The agency purchases a one-third share in Garnsey Smith & Greene, changing the name to Garnsey Greene Clemenger.

Jack Clemenger receives an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the community. Major clients of the agency at this stage include Peters Ice-Cream, Guests Biscuits, Sitmar and Parsons Foods.

In February, Jack Clemenger sadly passes. The agency announces it will be jointly managed by its two equal owners, Peter and John Clemenger.

In March, Peter and John Clemenger purchase Sydney agency, Cruickshank Maxwell, and merge it with the Clemenger agency. At this time, Clemenger Sydney changes its status from being a branch office of the Melbourne agency, to become John Clemenger (NSW) Pty Ltd.

Clemenger expands to Adelaide. Preference shares are exchanged with Martin Kinnear Neate, and it becomes Martin Kinnear Clemenger.

Clemenger Melbourne moves offices to 416 St Kilda Road.

Peter and John Clemenger, who each own 50% of the company, decide to sell some of their shares in the business to staff. The first two employee shareholders are Peter Cooper and Peter Rankin.

In December, Clemenger expands into Perth, buying into an agency owned by Ian Parkes and forming Parkes Clemenger.

Geoff Wild moves from Clemenger Melbourne to Sydney, becoming Managing Director. The staff shareholding scheme which began in 1969 is expanded, with 74,000 shares offered to senior executives around Australia. A holding company, Clemenger Australia Limited, is incorporated and acquires shares in John Clemenger Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Having developed a relationship over 20 years, Clemenger makes the significant decision to join forces with the worldwide agency network, BBDO. Clemenger sells BBDO a 35% shareholding, and Peter Clemenger joins the BBDO Worldwide Board.

In January, Clemenger buys Melbourne agency Alexander Moulton, which handled Coles advertising for many years. The agency is initially named Clemenger Moulton, before another rename to Clemenger Bryson after the agency moves to the Bryson Centre in Melbourne. Clemenger's Radio Manager since 1966, Peter Harvie, moves to the agency to run it. In October, Clemenger expands across the Tasman to New Zealand, purchasing 20% of agency Colenso. Hylton Mackley, one of Colenso's four founders, becomes its first Managing Director and, as of today, is Clemenger Group's second-longest serving active employee after Peter Clemenger.

In June, Clemenger purchases a 42% share in the industrial advertising agency EG Holt & Associates. Clemenger makes a move into Asia in October, purchasing a 25% interest in a Hong Kong advertising agency, which becomes Clemenger Wong & Waters.

The Clemenger Holding Company converts to Public Company Status under the Companies Act. The Brisbane agency changes its name to Garnsey Clemenger.

BBDO Worldwide purchases a further 10% stake of the Clemenger Group, now owning 45%. Clemenger purchases 25% of Sydney agency Magnus, Nankervis & Curl.

Robert Morgan, the company Executive Chairman today, joins Clemenger Melbourne as a Senior Account Executive. In February, Clemenger sells its interest in Clemenger Wong Waters to the new Holding Company BBDO/Clemenger Limited. Clemenger buys 25% of Batey Ads in Singapore. By the end of the 1970s, Clemenger grows to become the second largest agency in Australia.

The agency Clemenger Bryson becomes Clemenger Harvie. Clemenger purchases a 25% interest in a Sydney-based sales incentive company called Sales Development.

Interest in Asia continues to grow, with the acquisition of 20% of Malaysian agency Wings Creative Consultants. Clemenger Direct is established to specialise in direct marketing. It later becomes the number-one direct marketing agency in Australia.

Clemenger Melbourne moves to 474 St Kilda Road.

Clemenger Direct establishes a branch office in Sydney. In June, Clemenger purchases an 80% interest in Sydney agency Harris Robinson Courtenay.

Clemenger Sydney moves to a new office at 120 Pacific Highway, St Leonards.

Hylton Mackley is appointed Financial Director of Clemenger Australia Limited.

Post Productions is created as a television production house (50% owned by the Clemenger Group and 25% owned by DDB Needham). Clemenger Group sees great successes throughout the year:

• B&T name Clemenger 'Agency of the Year'
• Clemenger Melbourne wins AdNews' 'National Agency of the Year'
• Clemenger Melbourne adds $25 million in new business, with clients including National Mutual Royal Bank, Just Jeans, Australia Post, Libra, Sportscraft, Uncle Toby's and more
• Over 300 employees join the Clemenger Staff Shareholding Scheme
• Peter Clemenger is voted 'Most Outstanding Managing Director' in a survey at the IAA Congress

Robert Morgan becomes Managing Director of Clemenger Melbourne.

John Clemenger retires. Greg Daniel, David Blackley and Robert Morgan are appointed to the Clemenger Holding Company Board.

Peter Harvie retires from the Clemenger Holding Company board.

The largest clients of the Group at this time include Australian Dairy Corporation, BankSA, Just Jeans, National Mutual, News Corporation, Pizza Hut, Channel Ten, Nestle, National Brewing, Pepsi and more. Clemenger Melbourne again wins AdNews' 'National Agency of the Year'. Harvie Advertising changes its name to Clemenger Harvie.

For a second consecutive year, Clemenger Melbourne wins AdNews' 'National Agency of the Year'.

The 50th anniversary of the Clemenger Group is celebrated and BBDO holds a worldwide meeting in Australia to mark the milestone.

Robert Morgan is appointed Clemenger Group Chairman. Clemenger acquires a majority shareholding in public affairs firm, CorPol Alliances group, which is soon after renamed Government Relations Australia.

Melbourne agency, The Edge, is acquired and merged into Clemenger Harvie to form Clemenger Harvie Edge (CHE). Proximity Worldwide is launched in London as a new generation network. Clemenger Direct changes its name to Clemenger Proximity. Clemenger Group acquires shares in Cultural perspectives, a specialist multicultural marketing agency with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Experiential agency, Traffik, launches on October 1.

Clemenger BBDO wins AdNews' 'Network of the Year' for a third year in a row. Clemenger Group acquires shares in Cosway Australia, a leading corporate and financial firm. Quickstrike launches on July 1.

Digital agency, NetX, is purchased and rolled into Clemenger Proximity in Sydney. Clemenger Group acquires shares in Brandworld in New Zealand. Clemenger Group acquires shares in Open Mind Research. Government Relations Australia completes its national office network by joining with leading local public affairs adviser, Paul Everingham, to form GRA Everingham in Perth.

Clemenger Group acquires Raydar in New Zealand.

Gallery De Pasquale in Brisbane is acquired and merged into the Clemenger agency. Open Mind Research becomes Hall & Partners | Open Mind.

Clemenger sells half of its shares to BBDO Worldwide, which now holds 74% of the business. Clemenger Group acquires shares in Touchcast. Curtis Jones & Brown changes its name to URSA Clemenger.

Clemenger Harvie Edge changes its name to CHE Proximity, re-engineering itself as a data driven agency. Clemenger BBDO Melbourne wins Campaign Brief's 'Creative Agency of the Year' for a fifth consecutive year. Clemenger Group acquires shares in the agency Redhanded. Clemenger Group buys justONE. Colenso BBDO is named The World's Best Agency and The World's Best Direct Marketing Agency, by The Big Won report - a brilliant achievement.

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne wins the Interactive Agency of the Year Award. Government Relations Australia celebrates its 20th year and merges with Cosway to form GRACosway - Australia's leading integrated public affairs and corporate and financial communications firm. Channel 5 is 100% owned by Clemenger Group from July 1. Clemenger Group increases shareholding to take a majority interest in Perth agency, Marketforce.

After a rich 47 year history in Adelaide, Clemenger sells the agency and exits the Adelaide market. hub+ , Clemenger Group's production agency, becomes eg+.

On March 18, the Clemenger Group celebrates its 70th anniversary. Colenso BBDO is ranked the world's number-one agency by Directory Big Won. Clemenger BBDO Melbourne sees several big wins:

• More awards than any other agency at the 2016 Mashies Awards
• Campaign Brief Australia's 'Agency of the Year' for a record ninth time
• AdNews' Award for 'Australia's Best Agency'

Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has another fantastic year, and is recognised for its creative strength:

• Most awarded agency at the London D&AD Awards
• Crowned 'Best Creative Agency in the World' at Cannes Lions: International Festival of Creativity
• The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) campaign, Meet Graham, is the single most awarded campaign of Cannes Lions with 28 wins
• In total, Clemenger Group wins 78 of the 144 Lions won by BBDO Worldwide at Cannes

CHE Proximity is at the dawn of a new era, after winning AdNews' 'Australian Agency of the Year', 'Victorian Agency of the Year', 'Customer Experience Agency of the Year', 'Best Use of Data', and 'Digital Campaign of the Year'. Clemenger Group purchases 70% of Digital Solutions company LEVO.

At the 40th annual AWARD Awards, Clemenger excels:

• Clemenger Group is awarded 'Network of the Year', winning 22 Gold Pencils for eight clients
• Clemenger BBDO Sydney is named 'Agency of the Year'
• CHE Proximity wins 'Best in Show' for its AutoAds campaign for Carsales
• Clemenger client, Carsales, is named 'Client of the Year'

CHE Proximity and Colenso BBDO make the annual Contagious Pioneers List, featuring the ten best and bravest agencies which consistently create the most insightful and innovative work.

Clemenger Group celebrates 75 years, performing strongly creatively and financially through the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. Strategic design and technology consultancy, LEVO is awarded Optimizely international partner of the year and DXP partner of the year. 99 and JustOne successfully merge to form Proximity NZ. Our agencies perform brilliantly amid the pandemic, proving our continued strong creative standing:

• Extraordinary creative success at Clemenger BBDO Wellington, being recognised as the number-one agency in New Zealand by D&AD, Campaign Brief The Work and the Immortal Awards, and a record EFFIES performance
• Colenso BBDO is ranked as the number-two creative agency in the world, together with number-one most effective campaign in the WARC Effective 100 global rankings
• CHE Proximity take home Agency Network of the Year, eight Gold Pencils, and the Special Award for Individual Agency of the Year at the 42nd AWARD Awards

From January, Robert Morgan transitions from Executive Chairman to the role of Chairman of the Group, and Les Timar becomes CEO. In April, Clemenger Group acquires the remaining 30% ownership of digital transformation agency, LEVO. CHE Proximity officially rebrands to CHEP Network - the home of new economy creativity. Clemenger sees another great year in creative awards:

• Clemenger BBDO Melbourne is ranked as Australia's number-one agency, and fourth best agency in the Asia Pacific, at The One Show
• Creatives from across CHEP Network and Colenso BBDO are selected as jurors for the 2022 Cannes Lions Festival, and attend in-person for the first time in two years
• CHEP Network secure five Gold Pencils as well as several Silver and Bronze at the 43rd AWARD Awards. Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and Sydney each take home Gold, Silver and Bronze awards across various works