ECD Bob Mackintosh to depart Host after 11 years
Bob Mackintosh the executive creative director of Host is set to depart at the end of the year.
Mackintosh: Leaving Host after 11 years
It brings to an end an 11-year association with the agency for MacKintosh, who was the first “creative” hire for the agency, which was set up without any creatives.
Since then he has worked on notable campaigns including Kiwi Sceptics for Air New Zealand, and in 2013 was made ECD of the agency.
Case Study: Air New Zealand Presents the Kiwi Sceptics from Host Sydney on Vimeo.
Host founder and group CEO, Anthony Freedman said: “We created Host to be an agency designed for the new world and modern minded, digitally-led campaigns were a key part of this. Bob was the first creative hire we made eleven years ago as we expanded our digital capabilities, and under his creative direction we developed some brilliant work in that space. I have loved working with him and wish him all the very best with all that lies ahead.”
Freedman has been spending time in London recently and is understood to be scoping out the launch of a new office for the agency there.
Managing director, Laura Aldington added: “Bob has played a big part in our business for over a decade, delivering some of our favourite campaigns for Air New Zealand, Coca-Cola, Levi’s and LEGO amongst many others. This body of work has been widely awarded for both creativity and effectiveness, and that is emblematic of what Bob is all about.
“He’s a master craftsman and a gifted director and on top of all of that, he’s just an absolute pleasure to work alongside. We’ll miss him, of course, but we wish him all the best for his exciting next chapter.”
Mackintosh said: “Host is a brilliant agency, and I’m so proud of what’s been achieved. Spending eleven years in one agency isn’t exactly common, but it’s flown by, because I’ve spent that time alongside colleagues who are incredibly talented, lovely and have a wonderful sense of collective ambition. Hard as it is to leave, it’s simply time for me to bring about change in my life and explore new things.
“I’ll be taking the summer off before I focus on what’s next and I leave knowing that Host is in top form.”
An announcement on “new creative leadership” will be made soon.
