African creative to become UK-based worldwide lead on Unilever account

Born and raised in Cape Town, Clerke is currently Executive Creative Director for Ogilvy South Africa. She has held the position since 2021. 

Ogilvy works across several of Unilever’s big-name international brands, including Dove and Hellmann’s. This year Unilever and Ogilvy celebrated the 20th anniversary of Dove’s well-known ‘Campaign for Real Beauty’. 

Unilever was recently named Creative Marketer of the Year at the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. 

Inspired people to think differently 

“Throughout [Camilla’s] time as an Executive Creative Director for Ogilvy South Africa, she hasn’t just created campaigns; she’s built immersive worlds, captured attention, and inspired people to think differently,” the agency says in a statement posted on its website. 

“With ‘Bride Armour’ for Carling Black Label, she led a team in tackling the epidemic of gender-based violence in South Africa by designing a wedding gown that could withstand all forms of abuse, and hijacking South Africa Fashion Week, turning heads and sparking a national conversation.  

“Her ingenuity in transforming beer byproducts into high-protein bread for Castle Lager with ‘Bread of the Nation’ showcased the power of creativity to drive business results while having a positive impact on communities.” 

Adds the Ogilvy statement: “Camilla’s journey, much like a captivating short story, began with a detour – a near miss with the world of accounting that led to her escape into the exhilarating landscape of advertising.  

“It was here that she discovered her true calling: crafting stories that spark change and resonate deep within the human experience.”