The Sharpener

Out of Office is a new content series providing a unique insight into the people and culture at Leo Burnett, focusing on how their interests shape the agency and the work we produce. #003 introduces Laura Almond - food blogger, tennis player, and volunteer blind tennis coach...

This extended OOO charity special introduces Metin Salih, Kate Nicoli and Laura Almond, who all recognise that small contributions can have a wonderful impact and demonstrate how, in the words of Leo Burnett himself, "collective solutions to problems start with individual human beings and individual efforts".

Most of the time, all you hear from ad agencies is about the work and the awards – but rarely do you hear about the people behind it.

We're pleased to announce the appointment of Chaka Sobhani to the role of Chief Creative Officer.
"Chaka is a rare talent," says Mark Tutssel, CCO of Leo Burnett Worldwide, "a different flavour of CCO, whose non-traditional mix of experience is perfectly matched to the transformational needs of progressive clients".

The International Exchange (TIE) is an organisation that matches up workers from the communications industry with charities that require their expertise - we've got a long and rich history with them, as they've been responsible for shipping some of our best and brightest around the world to spread a little good to people who need it. And they've just launched their first ever campaign...

We held a charity bake-off here at LB LDN today to raise money for Education for the Children, and the results were fairly startling. From the myriad colourful entries, the judges managed to bravely, er, eat a load of cake and whittle it down to a top three: Philippa Tuck's retro 'Moonshine' extravaganza in 3rd place, Mia Isserow's astonishing bowl of Kellogg's cereal (which was actually a cake) in 2nd, with the winner's rosette going to Maisie Willis' 'Leo Burger' piece - burgers and fries, made of cake.
Pretty good day for us, all in all - a load of money raised for a good cause, and we're all full of cake. Brilliant.

Senior Account Manager Ali Wilde is going to be swimming in shark-infested waters. Well, why not...?

Swashbuckling explorer Levison Wood came to teach the folks of Leo Burnett London a thing or two about firing catapults at sparrows. Stephen Adams reports...