Sarah Bailey

Managing Director VML Melbourne & Sydney. Author of The Dark Lake series, The Housemate and audio book Final Act.

Sarah Bailey is a prominent figure in the Australian advertising industry, currently serving as the Managing Director for both the Melbourne and Sydney offices of VMLY&R, a global advertising agency.1 2 Her role expanded in August 2021 when VMLY&R announced a new structure to bring leadership of the Sydney and Melbourne offices together under her direction.1

Career Background

Sarah Bailey has had an extensive career in marketing and advertising:

She started her career in direct marketing before moving into sales promotion.2
She worked client-side at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games for 18 months.2
Prior to joining VMLY&R, she led the client service group at DDB Melbourne as Managing Partner.2
Over the past decade, she has worked with some of Australia's most well-known brands.2

Role at VMLY&R

As Managing Director for both Melbourne and Sydney offices, Sarah Bailey:

Oversees operations and strategy for both locations.1
Works closely with Jake Barrow, who leads creative across both cities.1
Focuses on seamlessly connecting talent across the entire client portfolio.1
Supports key client campaigns for brands such as Army Reserve, Vodafone, and Rip Curl.1

Leadership Style

Bailey is known for:

Building strong, integrated account service teams.2
Working on major digital transformation projects.2
Emphasizing collaboration and connectivity between offices.1

Additional Pursuits

Interestingly, Sarah Bailey is also an accomplished author:

She has written several crime novels, including "The Dark Lake," which won awards for Best Crime Debut.4
Her standalone novel "The Housemate" is being developed for TV.4
She balances her writing career with her role as Managing Director at VMLY&R.3 4

Sarah Bailey's multifaceted career in advertising and writing demonstrates her diverse talents and her ability to excel in both creative and business leadership roles.