DDB Sydney ECD Dylan Harrison leaves to start directing career with Toby Talbot taking the role
Harrison
DDB Sydney executive creative director Dylan Harrison is leaving the agency at the end of this week after just over three and a half years to join Filmgraphics Entertainment, with recently appointed DDB chief creative officer Toby Talbot taking over his duties.
Harrison joined the agency in January 2011 after a stint at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand.
In a statement he said: “I’m incredibly proud of my time at DDB Sydney. Since joining in 2011, not only did we move from 23rd to top five creatively ranked in the DDB network globally, we did so with record business results. Last year alone was both the best commercial and creative performance in the agency’s history, entering the Gunn Report Top 50 agencies in the world for the first time.
“DDB Sydney is in great shape and great hands. Toby Talbot is a long time friend through DDB and I know he’ll take the agency to even greater heights.”
Recently Harrison has worked on the McDonald’s McFeast campaign, and also worked on the Gold Cannes Lion award-winning Track My Maccas campaign and the Maccas Australia Day campaign.
DDB Group Australia CEO Andrew Little said: “Dylan has led a thriving creative department in Sydney for four years and without question during this time his passion has evolved into directing. This is what I love about our industry – we give people, our best people, the opportunity to grow, evolve and pursue their passion.
“Dylan has been talking to us for months about his desire to change direction and so this has once again been a well planned for succession. Toby Talbot is one of the most awarded creative talents in Asia Pacific and one of the most applauded talents in Australia and we are delighted he has re-joined us as chief creative officer.”
Most recently, Talbot was the chief creative officer at Whybin\TBWA New Zealand.
DDB Sydney chief creative officer, Toby Talbot, said: “I’m very excited for Dylan as he’s leaving to follow a dream. That’s a rare thing to do and a brave thing to do. As the writer of some truly iconic ads for DDB over the last 14 years, he leaves with an incredible body of work behind him. In the short time I’ve been at the agency, it’s been an absolute pleasure to collaborate with Dylan. Long may that continue now he’s a director.”
Harrison is entering into a joint venture with Filmgraphics Entertainment to pursue a career in directing.
On that move, Harrison said: “As a writer I’ve always been driven by strong ideas, I always will be. But directing is so much more than a great script. Bringing it to life with casting, performance and creating just the right mood and atmosphere – the process can be nothing short of magic.
“My apprenticeship has been shadowing many great directors throughout my career and I’ve always been hands on. After directing campaigns through DDB for Arnott’s and Volkswagen recently, I knew it was time.”
Harrison wraps up with DDB Sydney on Friday, August 15 and will be directing full time with Filmgraphics Entertainment and contracting independently through ‘The Hooligan Collective’.
Miranda Ward
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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Andrew Little
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Dylan Harrison
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FilmGraphics Entertainment
Toby Talbot
