New Burnett image is très freak…

Leo Burnett has never been famed for its creativity – at least, in the UK – but it has recently made a couple of moves to change this.

Not only has it bought a sizeable chunk of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, long-time holder of the top creative slot in Marketing Week’s annual agency reputation survey, but it has also made a distinct move towards holding hip and happening parties.

Last week it hosted a Valentine/ Caribbean party for a hotch-potch of trade journalists. The connection between Valentine’s day and the Caribbean remains a mystery but a hip do it was: there was limbo dancing, flame swallowing and two scantily clad transvestites to entertain the throng.

However, the agency has a long way to go before its staff under-stand this new-found creative bent.

One blushing creative expost-ulated: “This is a freak show.”