Award-winning DDB Melbourne CCO Darren Spiller stepping down
DDB Group Melbourne chief creative officer, Darren Spiller, is leaving the agency after almost five years spent charting the creative course of the agency. A global hunt has begun for his replacement.
Spiller leaving DDB Melbourne after almost five years
It is understood that Spiller may remain with the network and will be exploring opportunities overseas while he takes a break from the industry.
The agency confirmed Spiller’s departure to Mumbrella and that he will step down on November 15.
Spiller joined the agency in 2012 as executive creative director and was elevated to the position of group chief creative officer in March 2015.
DDB Group Australia CEO, Andrew Little, said Spiller had played a key role at the agency.
“Darren has done an outstanding job for DDB Melbourne over the past four years and we wish him the very best for this next stage – he is a truly amazing creative talent achieving over 100 awards in this first three years for clients including Devondale, Radiant Returns and RSL, to name but a few,” Little said.
“We are conducting the search for Melbourne’s new CCO and in the interim, Melbourne creative directors Glen Dickson and Jim Ritchie will be closely supported by the senior Sydney team, led by Ben Welsh.”
Agency managing director, Dave Brown, said the work for Devondale was a highlight of collaborating with Spiller.
“Darren has been my partner in crime and one of the most talented creative leaders I have worked with,” Brown said.
“We will remember his legacy for many reasons but the highlight will always be the highly entertaining and multi-award winning Devondale campaign that broke category rules and challenged perceptions.
“DDB Melbourne has a very strong senior creative line-up, with outstanding creative and innovative work already in the process for 2017.”
Spiller’s work on Devondale won awards and attracted complaints
Spiller said he was proud of the legacy he will leave the agency.
“I have been talking to Andrew and Dave for the past six months about my personal ambition to work overseas again,” Spiller said.
“I am looking at a number of opportunities, including within the DDB network. The past four years have been amazing, working with an outstanding team of creative heroes as well as brave and ambitious clients. This was not an easy decision but the timing is right.”
Spiller was behind Devondale’s ‘Cyclops’ ad starring a little girl with a one-eyed doll and its ‘Soy Aftertaste Face’ campaigns.
