Happy Soldiers to call it quits

Tim Burrowes

April 18, 2011 10:14

Award-winning Sydney ad agency Happy Soldiers is to close its doors because its three managing partners could not agree on its future direction.

The independent agency – which employs around 12 people – is best known for its work on Tontine pillows.

The agency’s drive to create best-by dates for pillows, supported by a saturation advertising and PR campaign, has already won at the AWARD Awards and AdNews Awards.

Managing partner Lindsey Evans told Mumbrella that although the three partners – herself, John Kane and Mark Sareff – had not fallen out, they did want to go in different directions. The other shareholders in the agency are Sasha Firth, Sophie Price and Ben Sampson.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.

Topics

Happy Soldiers John Kane Lindsey Evans Mark Sareff Tontine

4 COMMENTS

nick williams 18 Apr 11

a real shame. 3 of the nicest and most talented people in the industry

Timbo 18 Apr 11

Have to agree. This is bad for creativity and fresh thinking in Sydney advertising. These are 3 of the most interesting people I’ve worked with in Australia. The agency had the right vision and genuinely approached strategy and ideas differently, rather than just saying that’s what they do… real shame! No doubt see Lindsey, Mark and John re-appear very shortly.

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the peacekeeper 18 Apr 11

So the happy soldiers were actually at war with each other.

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Not Craig Davis 18 Apr 11

What does Mark@virgin think?

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