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Léon Bristow
Art director & founder
Colenso BBDO and Beings
New Zealand
It’s hard to imagine a greater champion of diversity, inclusion, and indigenous voices in our industry than Léon Bristow. The Colenso BBDO art director serves on Aotearoa’s DE&I Cross-Industry Working Committee, shaping New Zealand’s approach to culturally rich and equitable casting and production practices.
But Bristow doesn’t just talk about what needs to be done, he puts his words into action. As the founder of Beings, an online directory to explore, discover, and cast POC, Rainbow, and Disabled talent, he has made significant strides in addressing disparities in casting processes. The platform has quickly become a trusted resource, securing multiple paid roles and sparking meaningful conversations across the industry.
Recently named the Emergent Icon in Te Hapori Matihiko Awards that celebrate Māori shaping digital futures grounded in identity and community, Bristow’s contributions to Colenso BBDO include leading campaigns for Matariki and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, and creating impactful work for clients like Spark and Auckland Pride. As a queer Māori Samoan, Bristow’s unique perspective has been instrumental in developing authentic and inclusive campaigns that resonate with not only diverse audiences but have opened doors with major clients.
A master of artistic works that engage universal audiences, Bristow’s design talent was evident early on in his career. At the age of 23, Bristow was already directing international campaigns in Spain, earning accolades at the D&AD Awards and Art Directors Club Europe before returning to Aotearoa.
In the following years, Bristow has further shaped his career through participation in prestigious programs such as the Cannes Lions Creative Academy, D&AD New Blood Academy, and the Royal College of Art. His achievements include winning a Grand Prix Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, ranking him among the top Art Directors globally. In 2024, he was selected as an ambassador for Cannes Can: Diversity Collective, a U.S.-based initiative aimed at transforming the global advertising industry through representation.
Bristow’s personal resilience, having overcome significant health challenges, fuels his relentless commitment to creating space for underrepresented communities.
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