Dentsu Creative announces new chief client officer to replace Gayle While
Dentsu Creative ANZ has named Gayle While’s replacement, with Cate Stuart Robertson entering as its new chief client officer after While announced she was taking on the vacated CEO role at Host/Havas.
The former managing partner and Clemenger BBDO, Stuart-Robertson returns to the industry after four years, during which she worked as a creative development lead for Google and an associate partner at recruitment firm Hourigan International.
In the role, Stuart-Robertson will work closely with Dentsu Creative CEO Kirsty Muddle to “deliver creativity” for clients and “demonstrate the value of creativity” to CMOs.
Muddle said: “I am thrilled that Cate has decided to return to the creative advertising industry and chosen Dentsu Creative as her new agency home. There is no one with the magnetism that Cate has. If you know Cate, you know what I’m talking about – she is clever, passionate about craft, can drive innovation, creates culture and is a leader of people.
“Her experience is second to none and her passion for helping marketers use modern creativity to drive business growth is unparalleled. She’s worked with many of the Dentsu Creative team before and I’ve known her for a long time, we have great chemistry, and I know as a team we will push boundaries, deliver real results for clients and help them grow their businesses.”
The appointment rounds out Dentsu Creative’s C-Suite. Recent additions include joint-chief creative officers, Avish Gordhan and Mandie van der Merwe, who joined from M&C Saatchi to head up creative at the then freshly-consolidated Dentsu Creative offering.
Last month, former chief client officer, Gayle While, revealed she would be leaving the agency’s leadership team after a year to take on the role of CEO at Host/Havas. While replaced Laura Aldington, who had spent five years in the CEO role, and 15 with the agency.
Stuart-Robertson started her career at The Campaign Palace before spending close to 10 years at Clemenger BBDO, where in 2015 she founded TKT Sydney as a creative consultancy for the Clemenger Group.
Of her appointment, Stuart-Robertson said: “After four years out of advertising, being part of an agency again gives me this wonderful sense of going home. I have missed the people, the work and the pure adrenaline that comes with creative problem solving. Along with the industry, I’ve watched Dentsu Creative emerge as a serious contender in our market in recent years. I’m energised by the strength of the team, the power of the tools and the opportunities they have ahead of them. I’m all in.
“Kirsty has assembled this incredible squad and I am excited to be a part of it, helping our clients make the most out of their big swings to grow their business and demonstrate the true value of modern creativity. It’s good to be home.”
Stuart-Robinson’s appointment is effective as of April 3.
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