Dubai, 21 July, 2026: Independent brand experience agency onepointfive appoints Simon Walsh as Global Executive Creative Director, strengthening its presence in the Middle East and reinforcing its ambitions to build a globally connected creative business from its Dubai hub.
Based in Dubai, Walsh will lead onepointfive’s Middle East growth while also overseeing the agency’s creative direction internationally, working closely with founders Rob Pryce and Joel Barsch to connect the agency’s UK and UAE operations through a single creative philosophy.
Walsh joins from LightBlue, where he spent seven years helping build one of the Middle East’s leading creative agencies. During his tenure, the agency was named Campaign Middle East Creative Agency of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and shortlisted globally in 2024. He brings extensive experience leading creative work across both corporate and consumer brands, spanning sport, technology, property and luxury, with clients including Formula One, UEFA, Amazon, Google, Nakheel, Red Sea Global, Nike, adidas, Burberry and Dior.
The appointment follows onepointfive’s recent expansion into the Middle East after securing major regional work and opening a Dubai base to support growing demand from international and local clients.
Over the past two years, onepointfive has expanded its international footprint across Europe, North America, APAC and the Middle East, delivering projects for brands including Shopify, Microsoft, Bumble and Primark. The agency recently completed its first Middle East-based project at Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi and continues to invest in the region as a long-term growth market.
Simon Walsh, Global Executive Creative Director at onepointfive, said: “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 makes good work compound over time. That’s exactly how Rob and Joel have built onepointfive, and it’s why I can’t wait to built the next chapter with them.”
Rob Pryce, co-founder of onepointfive, said: “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: “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.”
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