The Famous Q&A ~ with Alex Grieve
By James Herring on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Alex Grieve started his career at BBH where he worked for 14 years creating award-winning work for Levi’s, Axe, Audi & Barnardo’s to name a few.
In 2022 he returned to his alma mater as Global & London Chief Creative Officer and since then, has been steering the agency through a new chapter of creativity, with the team at BBH delivering category defining work for Audi, Tesco, Paddy Power, Burger King and Mentos.
Prior to rejoining the flock at BBH, he was CCO at AMV BBDO where for three consecutive years he was ranked the No.1 CCO in the UK by WARC. He’s also been ranked the No.1 Creative Director in the world at Cannes Lions.
He’s won ten Cannes Grand Prix’s (including Titanium & Glass), three D&AD Black Pencils and in 2021 achieved an industry first with AMV by winning ‘The Treble’: Global Agency of the Year at Cannes, D&AD and the One Show.
What’s exciting you most in your work at the moment?
The momentum at BBH.
How do you see the future of the industry in the world of A.I?
A.I. can do many brilliant things but it doesn’t have taste. Therefore, to ensure your future, cultivate great taste.
The best bit of advice you were ever given
Trust the process
A brand you would love to add to your portfolio.
On Running
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A bank manager. My Mum actually arranged for me to visit her bank and meet him.
When you hit a creative rut what do you do?
Show up. Arse in chair. Something will always come (trust the process).
Share something surprising that people don’t know about you
Probably the fact I wanted to be a bank manager aged 9.
A favourite campaign, you didn’t work on?
Honda ‘Power of Dreams’ – Cog, Grrr, Banana …
Your last supper. What’s on the menu?
1970’s Classic: King Prawns with Mayo; Steak, Chips & red wine; Chocolate Mousse.
A favourite campaign you worked on and a bit about it
I loved the Curry’s Xmas Campaign with Jeff Goldblum. Comedy is really, really hard. And these (IMHO) are really, really funny.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Japanese socks
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
Pitching. It’s broken.
Your biggest fuck up?
Don’t worry about fuck-ups. They happen. It’s how you respond.
Your go-to karaoke song?
‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor
Most challenging brief you ever worked on?
The last one.
Share an item from your bucket list.
Cycling up Mount Ventoux.
A person who inspires you is…
The Author – Katherine Rundell. The best writer of Children’s fiction by a distance.
One piece of advice for people considering a career in this industry
Do the work and everything else will follow.
All-time (4) favourite movies?
The Right Stuff. Time Bandits. The Wages of Fear. Apocalypse Now.
Previously > The Famous Q&A with Nils Leonard
