Howatson+Company CCO Levi Slavin departs agency to join startup
Levi Slavin, chief creative officer at Howatson+Company, has confirmed via a LinkedIn post that he has decided to leave the agency founded by Chris Howatson.
Slavin joined Howatson+Company in January last year after leaving his post as CCO at Auckland-based agency Colenso BBDO, part of the Clemenger Group.
Originally named Howatson+White, Slavin had replaced founding partner Ant White who had left the agency in late 2021 under questionable circumstances.
In his LinkedIn post, Slavin said, “After 20+ years of working in advertising, I’ve decided to leave the agency world. I’ve worked with incredible people, made lifelong friends, and lots of ads.
“Over the last few years, I was fortunate enough to bounce from Colenso to Australia’s greatest start-up Howatson+Co. While the job was incredible, and our success inarguable [sic], living away from family became too hard.”
Slavin continued by announcing he would be joining Ironclad Co, a cookware startup founded by his wife and fellow Colenso alumni Joe Carter, in a full-time position.
Mumbrella understands he wrapped up his position ahead of Christmas.
Howatson said the agency was grateful for the year they’d had with Levi.
“He is brilliantly talented and very, very funny. He has contributed enormously to building the team, the culture and of course the work. I’ve never met anyone who can write like Levi. It’s hard being away from family though so we’re happy for him for the choice he’s made. Iron Clad Pans will be a household name, so everyone watch this space.”
Left without a chief creative for the second time in as many years, Howatson told Mumbrella that he would not be looking to replace Slavin.
“The CCO position will not be replaced. Instead the agency has brilliant ECD leadership in Gavin Chimes, Richard Shaw and Jeremy Hogg who have all been with the company from its origins and have been fundamental in building our team and culture, deep relationships with clients, and our creative philosophy of intersectional creativity.”
Howatson+Company has grown rapidly off the back of Howatson’s strong reputation in the industry and his ability to hire a well-known and proven team. Clients now include TK Maxx, The Guardian, University of NSW, Belong, Petbarn and more.
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