Ex-Colenso COO launches content and production house, AO Studios
Former Colenso BBDO chief operating officer, Paul Courtney has gone live with his new creative and production studio, with the help of former agency staff.
Courtney left Colenso in September after 16 years to set up his new business, which has now been revealed as AO Studios, based in Auckland.
Paul Courtney has opened AO Studios
The studio’s purpose is to “help agencies and marketers get their ideas made” according to Courtney.
“Our advertising and marketing world is changing fast so this is a great moment to take advantage of the way clients and talent want to work these days,” said Courtney. “Clients are happy to work with bespoke teams created for their projects, and talent are looking for flexibility and variety. We’ve designed AO Studios to lean into this world.”
To start, Courtney has hired former head of integrated production at Colenso BBDO, Scott Chapman, alongside his ‘sidekick’, Chico Mandez (his dog).
Ex-Colenso Scott Chapman has joined AO Studios
Having spent 16 years at Colenso, Courtney has worked on several award-winning campaigns, and the studio said it has built an “amazing bench of producers, designers, art directors, writers, editors, soundies” and others it will draw on for projects.
Chapman added: “I’m excited to see what ideas come into the studio team and the things we get to make. There’s certainly some talented clients, agencies and partners out there who we’re looking forward to working with.”
In September, Courtney became the latest senior figure to depart the award-winning agency in recent years, joining Scott Coldham, Dan Wright, and Levi Slavin.
Got a tip?
Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
Linkedin
Have your say