HERO promotes Shane Geffen after three years as ECD
HERO’s Shane Geffen has been promoted to national executive creative director.
After three years as ECD, Geffen’s new remit in the national role will have him oversee all creative output for the agency’s client portfolio.
Geffen joined HERO in 2021 from VMLY&R, where he had held the title of associate creative director since September 2019. He has also had roles at Clemenger BBDO, DDB Group and Ogilvy, where he has worked with brands including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, Myer and the Australian Defence Force.
At the time of his appointment, he described the energy at HERO as “infectious” and said that manifests through the work.
“It’s what drew me to the business and I can’t wait to get started,” he said in 2021. “Personally, my hope is that together we can create relevant and effective work that clients and creatives will want to be a part of.”
Of his promotion, Geffen told Mumbrella: “It’s taken awhile but I’m thrilled that I’ve made it past my 3-year probation. Seriously though, When Ben Lilley asked 3 years ago, I jumped at the chance to join HERO Melbourne and did so once again at the chance to lead the national creative offering.
“Our teams are world class, and it shows in the incredible boundary pushing work that we’ve created in that time and I’m looking forward to continuing that with our clients and partners across the country,” he continued. “We’ve hit the ground running with soon to be released projects in Sydney that are testament to our creative vison, and I can’t wait to take things to the next level.”
Ben Lilley, creative chairman at HERO, described Geffen as a “driving force” behind the agency’s commitment to “turning brands into heroes”.
“He’s steadily added to our Lion and Effie collection since he arrived and saw HERO land top Aus ranking at this year’s New York Festivals,” Lilley told Mumbrella.
“Perhaps his greatest achievement though has been to substantially improve our appreciation for biltong, which is really saying something.”
The agency has also recently welcomed a new executive planning director, Lu Vardy, who is using her nearly three decades of brand experience to support its national client portfolio.
Earlier this year, the agency also added marketing, CX and brand strategy expert, Ken Chan, to its Melbourne team as head of planning, as well as Roz Scrimshaw as head of production. It also nabbed AMPR’s Ebony Santin as a new comms director.
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Lauren McNamara is the associate editor 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.
Linkedin
topics
Ben Lilley
creative
creative agency
ECD
Executive Creative Director
hero
McCann
national ECD
promotion
Shane Geffen
Have your say