Ikon to launch Melbourne office with three clients
Media agency Ikon will launch a Melbourne office with three foundation clients worth a total of around $15m in billings, Mumbrella can reveal.
The agency has hired Ben Willee from Initiative Melbourne to head the operation, which opens its doors on January 1.
Willee – who has been with Initiative for 11 years in Australia and the UK and is still negotiating his departure date – was unable to comment.
Ikon managing partner Gary Hardwick said that the agency will mainly be hiring from within the Melbourne market with two or three staff from Ikon’s existing Sydney operation also moving to the city.
Meanwhile, Hardwick and fellow Ikon founder Simon White have agreed with owner STW to stay with the company beyond their lock-in period, and focus on Ikon’s growth.
Hardwick will lead the Melbourne moves while White focuses on New Zealand. Other new markets may follow.
Hardwick and White launched the agency with CommBank as a foundation client. Earlier this year, the agency pulled off an against-the-odds victory when it retained Vodafone folowing the telco’s merger with Hutchison.
The pair also have a stake in spin-off digital and ideas agency Tongue, which rebranded from New Dialogue last month.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin