DDB Sydney: Mumbrella Creative Agency Review – solid year for a big player with ‘stickability’

The newly published Mumbrella Creative Agency Review examines Australia’s top 30 ad agencies. Today Robin Hicks examines how DDB Sydney has fared over the last 12 months.

With nearly 50 years between them at DDB, chairman and CEO Marty O’Halloran, group MD Chris Brown and MD Leif Stomnes have been charting a steady, prosperous path for the Sydney office. Built on four pillar clients – McDonald’s, Telstra, Tourism Australia and Volkswagen – DDB Sydney has a reputation as a large (around 240 people work in the DDB building), solid, outfit that produces consistent, effective work.

One panellist notes: “DDB Sydney has an inner confidence that benefits clients time after time. There have been changes, but changes for the better, and some great new talent has come in. There’s a confidence in them always being there no matter what – a resilience and stickability about their brand.”

Another adds: “Great all round professional firm. Superb senior management and planning talent. Needs a lift creatively.”