DDI MD Caroline McLaughlin joins Ben Lilley’s McCann
McCann Sydney has appointed managing director of DDI, Caroline McLaughlin, as senior business lead.
McCann creative chairman, Ben Lilley, said the agency is continuing to invest heavily into its people throughout the COVID-19 crisis, cutting costs to avoid making staff and salary cuts.
Caroline McLaughlin joins McCann following five years at DDI
“From February, we started to make deep cost cuts across every expense line of our national business other than salaries, so we wouldn’t have to make any staff or pay cuts. As we emerge from this crisis, McCann will be fully staffed and ready to meet our clients’ immediate needs, without the delays and disruption of having to restaff and retrain,” Lilley said.
“We’ve also undertaken extensive planning and research into what the post-crisis business climate will look like. One of Caroline’s first tasks will be to start planning with our clients now, to help prepare for their return to this ‘new normal’.”
Lilley also praised the experience McLaughlin will bring to the agency.
“Caroline’s global experience across blue chip brands spanning innovation, strategy and creative and digital communications makes her a key addition to our national team,” he said.
Prior to her five years at DDI, McLaughlin was managing director at creative agency Bulldozer Inc, and client service director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney. She also spent four years consulting on marketing and communications strategies.
McLaughlin said of her appointment: “Throughout my career, I’ve always fiercely believed in the power of creativity. I’m delighted to be joining a great team in Sydney at a time when McCann globally is the top creative force on the planet and is locally investing in a resurgence of its Sydney office.”
Lilley, the former CEO of McCann, returned to the agency after two years following a deal for him to acquire McCann Worldgroup Australia in February.
Last week, Mumbrella revealed that Lilley was purchasing the assets of creative agency Red Engine SCC and rolling them into McCann’s partner public relations agency The Red Republic.
McCann is currently hiring for a senior strategist.
