HERO cops fresh headwinds with the departure of Ben Coulson
Indie network HERO has been dealt another talent blow with the departure of chief creative officer Ben Coulson after three years – the third big name to leave in the past 12 months.
Coulson announced the news via a LinkedIn post on Monday night, thanking HERO’s founder Ben Lilley and the wider team for “one of the best experiences” he’s had.
Ben Coulson has left the agency
“3.2 years ago BL [Ben Lilley] had the (maybe crazy) idea to reboot McCann as an indi. I was straight on the phone asking if I could help,” he wrote.
“HERO launched, and a whirlwind of ‘build it in the run’ energy was set loose. People, skills, services, cities and some really great work flowed.
“I can happily say I learned more than I could have imagined.”
Coulson said he is hooked on the rush of adland and is “off to do it again”.
“Maybe another startup, maybe a network reno,” he wrote. “Just as long as it’s as much fun as this was!”
In July last year, HERO’s managing director Roshni Hegerman quietly left the agency, with chief operating officer James Greet following suite earlier this year.
Hegerman now serves as JAPAC enterprise director for Oracle and continues work on Pinch of Masala, which she founded following her time at HERO. Last month, Greet’s next move was announced with the launch of The Payback Project in Australia, where he was named CEO.
The Payback Project, which helps the industry deliver sustainable and responsible media, aims to inspire, educate and influence agencies to make smarter and safer strategic decisions.
Greet told Mumbrella at the time: “There is now acknowledgement that we have an issue, namely global warming… No one really denies it now. They are mainly saying, ‘So, what are we going to do to get started? How do I start?’ That’s where the majority of people are. So, it’s really quite simple to pick up what Steve [Pollack]’s done with his partners in the UK, bring it over here, and build on it.”
HERO’s client list includes Calbee’s Harvest Snaps, Toyota and recently won Simply Energy.
Mumbrella has contacted HERO for comment.
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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Oh hey Ben C! Yes well said. Perhaps those ‘headwinds’ are a surfing reference? 🤔
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Yeah, really safe hands
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Hey Lauren, didn’t expect this to be news today. No shocks or headwinds; we planned it far in advance. The agency is well set up, clients and staff were all properly informed, with time to adjust. Ben Lilley is at the helm, and HERO is in great shape.
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I think the headline is fair, as that is a lot of very senior people leaving in a short amount of time. We can’t have the trade press if all we want them to do is write puff-pieces for us. What’s the real story then?
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Hey guys!! No PR for a CCO who’s no stranger to PR doing such a great job he’s leaving without announcement!!!!!! Got a comms problem myself right now, perhaps you can help!!??
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