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Toby Talbot quits as chief creative role DDB Sydney to return to New Zealand

Returning to New Zealand: Talbot

Returning to New Zealand: Talbot

DDB Sydney’s chief creative officer Toby Talbot is leaving the agency after less than two years years to return to New Zealand and join boutique agency Assignment Group.

Talbot will take up a managing partner position with the agency founded by former Clemenger BBDO Melbourne CEO, Peter Biggs, having joined DDB Australia from Whybin\TBWA New Zealand to replace Dylan Harrison in August 2014.

Mumbrella understands DDB hopes to unveil its new creative lead by the end of the week, with Talbot involved in the selection process for his successor.

In a statement DDB Group Australia and New Zealand chairman, Marty O’Halloran said: “Naturally, we are very disappointed to lose Toby.

“I have personally worked with him for nearly 10 years across two agencies. He has unquestionably done a brilliant job in Sydney and leaves behind a very strong creative department with a lot of outstanding talent to continue the creative trajectory.”

DDB Sydney clients include Volkswagen and McDonald’s.

Talbot will join another former DDB creative head Mark Harricks at Assignment.

Describing it as a “hard decision” to leave the agency, Talbot said in a statement: “I have been commuting between Sydney and Auckland every week for nearly two years now. Much though I’ll miss my friends at DDB Sydney, I am more than ready to swap a Boeing 737 for the Devonport ferry.”

Alex Hayes

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