Chief creative to depart 303 MullenLowe Perth, replacement ECD named
Attivo Group’s 303 MullenLowe Perth has hired ex-Akkomplice ECD Sara Oteri, effective immediately, while chief creative Damian Royce is set to depart.
Returning to Melbourne for family reasons at the end of March, Royce is leaving the Perth-based agency after one year in the CCO role.
Royce
He was the agency’s first-ever chief creative, hired after Richard Berney and John Linton departed to launch their own business, Berlin Creative WA.
“Working in a new city over the past 12 months has been a great experience,” Royce explained.
“I have enjoyed being part of 303 MullenLowe’s exciting new path in Perth and I have no doubt the next stage will be very rewarding for the team and business. I have also met some wonderful senior clients who I’ll genuinely miss.
“While there are still several fantastic projects to see through before I return to my family in Melbourne, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Attivo CEO Cam Murchison and Perth MD René Migliore for inviting me to be part of the 303 MullenLowe journey.”
Replacing him is former Akkomplice talent, Sara Oteri, who joins 303 MullenLowe Perth as executive creative director.
She will lead the Perth creative team and its output, playing a pivotal role in new business development and creative innovation.
Oteri spent over six years at the Melbourne-based agency, working on brands including Darrell Lea, Sirena Tuna, Cricket Australia and Be Natural.
Oteri
“I was immediately drawn to 303MullenLowe’s ambition for its clients, and their idea of what good work looks like,” she said.
“I’m never content with being comfortable, and the energy that René and the team has, matched my drive. I’m also a Perth girl born and raised, so it feels really nice to be home and bringing back with me all my east coast experience. Here’s my shameless plug, if you’re an ambitious brand, big or small, local or global, looking for a partner to give you creativity that counts; we’d love to hear from you.”
Managing director of the Perth agency, René Migliore, said Royce leaves having made a huge impact on his coworkers and clients, and is excited to welcome Oteri to the team.
“Damian leaves having made an incredibly positive impact on his team, the wider agency, and our clients. It was a big move shifting his family across Australia to Perth, and we’re grateful for his commitment to the CCO role and the team,” she said.
“But as a family-friendly agency we also understand the important call to put family first, and move back to Melbourne. The entire agency and I wish Damian and his family the very best.”
Migliore continued: “The fact that he played a significant role in finding the ideal creative leadership to join the team, and in hiring Sara, is testament to his dedicated approach and professionalism. And we’re thrilled to have Sara and her combination of energy, creativity and brand smarts join the team.
“She’s a great cultural fit, and brings an approach to commercial creativity that bolsters our focus on effectiveness.”
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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