Independent brand experience agency onepointfive has appointed Simon Walsh as Global Executive Creative Director, as it expands its presence in the Middle East and grows its international creative offering.
Based in Dubai, Walsh will lead the agency’s Middle East operations while overseeing its global creative output. He will work alongside founders Rob Pryce and Joel Barsch to strengthen collaboration between the agency’s UK and UAE teams.
Walsh joins from LightBlue, where he spent seven years and helped establish the agency as one of the region’s key creative shops. During his tenure, LightBlue was named Campaign Middle East Creative Agency of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and was shortlisted globally in 2024.
His portfolio spans corporate and consumer brands across sectors including sport, technology, property and luxury, having worked with clients including Formula One, UEFA, Amazon, Google, Nakheel, Red Sea Global, Nike, adidas, Burberry and Dior.
The appointment follows onepointfive’s expansion into the Middle East after opening a Dubai office to support growing demand from regional and international clients. Over the past two years, the agency has also grown its presence across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, working with brands including Shopify, Microsoft, Bumble and Primark.
Walsh said the Middle East market has grown beyond pursuing scale and spectacle, with brands increasingly focused on building longer-term relationships through creative work that resonates with audiences.
“I’ve watched this region grow up from every brief being the world-first, the biggest, the never-been-done. Over time it’s matured, and brands require impactful work people carry with them. The next era is all about the relationship, and in a crowded market, the creative and brave ideas gets you in the room, but it’s the long-term relationships that keep you there and make good work compound over time. That’s exactly how Rob and Joel have built onepointfive, and it’s why I can’t wait to build the next chapter with them.”
Rob Pryce, co-founder of onepointfive, said Walsh’s experience in the Middle East aligns with the agency’s next phase of growth.
“Simon has built an incredible reputation across the Middle East and brings a depth of experience that perfectly complements where we are heading as a business. We’ve always believed that great work comes from brave thinking and great people, and Simon embodies both. His understanding of the region and his appetite to push creative boundaries make him the ideal person to help lead our next phase of growth.”
Joel Barsch, co-founder of onepointfive, added that Walsh’s experience in developing creative talent and leading teams would support the agency’s continued international expansion.
“One of the things we’ve worked hardest to build at onepointfive is a culture where people feel empowered to push ideas further and challenge what’s possible. Simon immediately understood that. He brings a huge amount of creative energy, but also a genuine passion for developing teams and helping people do the best work of their careers. As we continue to evolve globally, we’re excited about the fresh perspective he’ll bring and the impact he’ll have on both our people and our work.”
