LONDON, UK — Leading creative agency adam&eveDDB has announced the appointment of Martin Bassot as Strategy Partner, as part of a strategic push to strengthen its planning offering and deepen its communications strategy expertise. Bassot joins from Colenso BBDO in New Zealand, where he most recently held the dual role of Group Planning Director and Deputy Head of Planning.
Reporting directly to Will Grundy, Chief Strategy Officer at adam&eveDDB, Bassot brings a wealth of global experience across media, digital, and integrated creative agencies. His planning acumen spans brand, communications and experience strategy, having worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands including Nike, Samsung, Sainsbury’s, Guinness, Bud Light and ITV.
During his tenure at Colenso BBDO, Bassot was a key member of the extended leadership team. He helped steer the planning department and led strategic efforts for major clients such as Spark New Zealand and the Bank of New Zealand. Notably, he played a pivotal role in several award winning initiatives for MARS Petcare. These include Pedigree’s Cannes Lions Grand Prix-winning “Adoptable” campaign and Whiskas’ acclaimed “Meowzer” He also helped reposition ACANA, a recent acquisition in the MARS portfolio.
Bassot’s work on Spark New Zealand pushed creative boundaries, turning the country’s largest gaming festival into a groundbreaking playable co-op video game, “Killabyte” – a campaign that earned the Spikes Asia Grand Prix in Gaming. His contributions helped Colenso BBDO secure the title of Cannes Lions Pacific Agency of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.
Before his time at Colenso, Bassot held strategy roles at R/GA London, where he rose to Associate Director, Connections, and at Wieden+Kennedy London, where he was Comms Planning Director on accounts such as Nike, Sainsbury’s, and Revolut. He began his career in 2014 at Goodstuff Communications.
Will Grundy, CSO at adam&eveDDB said: “Martin is a weapons-grade strategist with an incredible brain, a diverse and modern skillset, and an eye-watering amount of world-class work to his name. As we continue to write the next chapter of the adam&eveDDB story, it’s brilliant brains like his that will help us reimagine what Feeling First creativity can do and be.”
Commenting on his appointment, Bassot said: “There’s no place quite like adam&eveDDB, and no planning team quite like the one here either. I’m excited to no doubt be made to feel annoyingly stupid, and to help build the next chapter of the agency.”
