Ex GPY&R ECD Michael Stanford joins Ten as national creative director of commercial content
Stanford | Source: LinkedIn
Another big name from the former George Patterson Y&R stable has joined Network Ten, Mumbrella can reveal.
Michael Stanford, who was with GPY&R from 2005 to 2008 where he was executive creative director, has joined Ten in the new role of national creative director of commercial content.
News of his appointment comes in the same week that the network’s general manager Russel Howcroft – another GPY&R alumni – signalled that Ten intended to get into the business of making ads for clients.
The ability to offer in-house creative is becoming a crucial one for networks because it increases their chances of capturing most of the spend on a particular campaign if there is bespoke advertising around it. Nine’s 9mm has created in-house ads around The Voice for Ford in one recent example.
However, Mumbrella understands that Stanford will have a much broader role, although Ten was not in a position to talk about it today.
The CEO of Ten, Hamish McLennan, started his career with George Patterson and went on to run Y&R globally before taking the Ten job earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Stanford will report in to another member of the old GPY&R crew, Matt McGrath – who joined as chief brand officer in April.
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Congrats Michael. Does this spell the gradual demise of traditional agencies?
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Congrats legend. Go you good thang.
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@GGTRO I think Russel was one of the first to not only see this happening but position himself to capitalise on the shift…Agree?
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TEN Sydney had a commercial production division in the late 1970’s and 80’s which was very successful. Worked in partnership with many ad agencies and direct clients.
Also helped to insure TEN got a major share of the client’s budget.
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I think they should focus on making good television shows before making good ads.
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So an ad guy, who knows the ins and outs, is now running an ad medium.
Well he would indeed be a madman if he didnt combine knowledge of the two to offer value to clients and pick up market share.
Good move Channel10.
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Well this dream-team worked a treat for GPY&R in the naughties.
So Ten’s success is a sure-fire thing for the tweenies.
Oh.
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