Sphere Taps Ned McNeilage As Chief Creative Officer

Ned McNeilage, a 30-year advertising and creative industry veteran, is Sphere’s new Chief Creative Officer, the company announced March 28.

McNeilage is charged with shaping the creative and brand strategy for Sphere. He will lead Sphere’s in-house creative design studio and brand teams, overseeing all Sphere brand strategy and creative. He will also be responsible for content that runs on the Exosphere – the venue’s fully programmable LED exterior – which features artistic and branded content.

“I am pleased to welcome Ned to Sphere Entertainment,” said Jennifer Koester, President, Sphere Business Operations. “Sphere is redefining immersive experiences, including through the Exosphere, which is an unparalleled digital canvas for public art and brand storytelling. Ned has worked with premier brands to spearhead memorable campaigns, and he will bring that expertise to not only support our partners in creating impactful brand moments at Sphere, but also continue to build the Sphere brand.”

Much of McNeilage’s role overlaps with that of Guy Barnett, who served as senior vice president of brand and creative development for a year at Sphere before moving into a consulting role in February.

“Joining the Sphere team and being part of shaping the brand’s creative vision is a remarkable opportunity,” McNeilage said. “Sphere has expanded the possibilities for artists and brands to express themselves through an entirely new medium, and I am eager to work with our partners and across the entire Sphere team to continue exploring the power of Sphere to connect with audiences in innovative ways.”

McNeilage comes to Sphere from marketing and communications firm VML, where he was also Chief Creative Officer. In this role, he worked on campaigns for blue-chip brands including Microsoft, IBM, and Google in addition to overseeing multiple offices.

He has also served as Chief Creative Officer at BBH LA, managing a team of creatives, entertainment specialists and technologists across brands including Samsung, American Express and Activision. He was Group Creative Director for TBWA\Media Arts Lab, where he worked on the launch of Apple TV+ and projects for Apple Music, and as Executive Creative Director at Creative Artists Agency. His advertising career began at Wieden + Kennedy where he spent almost a decade creating campaigns for clients including Nike, ESPN, and Coca-Cola. McNeilage received a B.A. in Communication, Journalism and Politics from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.