DDB takes Droga5 strategist while young creatives leave for BMF
Jim Curtis (left) and Ryan Fitzgerald (right)
Creative agency BMF has strengthened its creative team hiring creative duo copywriter Jim Curtis and art director Ryan Fitzgerald from DDB Sydney, which has itself announced a new planning director, hiring Anna Bollinger from Droga5.
Bollinger is the second senior planner to leave Droga5 in the past month, with planning head Justin Graham departing the agency for M&C Saatchi in December, to be replaced by ex-Lion marketer Jon Bradshaw.
However, promising young creative duo Curtis and Fitzgerald who have created campaigns for a wide range of clients including Volkwagen, McDonald’s, Arnotts, Telstra and Cadbury have departed the agency for BMF.
BMF creative director Justin Ruben said in a statement: “Jim and Ryan’s book showed a level of insight and craft that was way beyond their years. We’re delighted to welcome them into BMF to exercise their creative talents into our department.”
The team’s work for Volkswagen’s fatigue detection technology won two Silver Radio Lions in Cannes.
DDB Group Australia CEO Chris Brown said in a statement: “We will miss Ryan and Jim in the creative department at DDB Sydney as they are top creatives and nice guys to boot. We really wish them well for the next phase and appreciate the great work they have been involved in at the agency.
“However, following their departure and with the start of a New Year, we are excited to have the opportunity to add even more world-class talent to the creative team at DDB Sydney and continue what has been some of our best years creatively, with a number of great new campaigns in the pipeline that we are really excited about.”
Fitzgerald has previously worked as an art director at George Patterson Y&R for just over a year-and-a-half and was also a design intern in the craft department at Clemenger BBDO for just over a year.
The hires follow BMF’s appointment of Droga5 Sydney’s Cam Blackely as executive creative director which rounded out the creative team of creative founder Warren Brown, Sydney creative director Justin Ruben and Melbourne creative director Carlos Furnari, who was appointed at the end of last year.
Anna Bollinger
Bollinger had been with Droga5 for just over a year-and-a-half where she worked across a broad portfolio of Mondeleze brands as well working on the Qantas account, in particular their Frequent Flyer program.
Prior to her role at Droga5, Bollinger had worked as a planner at BMF for four-and-a-half years. During her time in the role her work with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia received an AMI Award for Excellence and she was awarded the 2009 APG Planning Idol for the top account planner in Australia under the age of 30.
DDB Sydney managing director, strategy and innovation, Leif Stromnes said in a statement: “We are really pleased to welcome Anna to our growing strategy division as we continue to develop effective interconnected ideas for our clients.
“Her diverse experience across communication, strategy as well as social will allow her to seamlessly work with our Social Intelligence Unit to craft and present strategy that pushes barriers.”
Bollinger will work across a number of clients including Westpac.
She said in a statement: “Planning today is increasingly about driving participation and building relationships that deliver real purpose and utility. It needs to seamlessly connect and motivate consumer behaviour, developing branded ecosystems that enhance their experience. DDB has the vision and drive to truly innovate the way brands influence and impact the lives of people who interact with them.”
The appointment follows on from DDB Sydney also hiring Paula Bloodworth as a planning director for the agency’s strategic division in October last year.
DDB’s Brown said in a statement: “DDB Sydney’s strategy and planning division has grown to be one of the largest and strongest in Australia. Our on-going vision is to be the most diverse strategic agency and we continue to harness the best talent and expertise in the industry to achieve this both for the agency and our clients.”
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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Don’t you love these agency press releases which all without fail assert they have the best creative talent in the Industry if not the world?
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Nice one Anna, you deserve good things and will be brilliant.
best wishes.
NG
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@Mike. I’m guessing you must sell yourself short in your own performance reviews, right?
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