Kieran Antill leaves JWT as ECD to focus on family and ‘outside interests’
WPP’s J. Walter Thompson Melbourne has seen the departure of its executive creative director Kieran Antill, who has left the agency to “focus on his family and outside interests”.
After three years with the agency as its executive creative director, Antill said in a statement: “While this has been an exciting ride, one that I’ll be forever grateful for, it has run its course. So, at this time, in this place I will be stepping back to focus on other interests, and my next venture will be named in the new year.
“Being the ECD of JWT Melbourne has been a privilege. I am so very proud of what we have achieved; the growth we’ve had; the shared creative ambition and the teamwork that has overcome daily challenges.”
Michael Godwin, managing director of JWT Melbourne, said a plan is in place for the future structure of the creative department, which will be announced in due course.
“Kieran has played an instrumental role in the success of the Melbourne office, making multiple new creative hires, establishing a consistently high bar for our output across a diverse client base, and introducing an integrated design team.
“He has also driven many internal initiatives that have helped all our staff recognise and celebrate creativity in multiple forms and unite in a shared creative ambition for the agency. He leaves an established, market-leading team who will continue this legacy of creative focus,” Goodwin added.
Antill joined JWT from Leo Burnett New York in 2013, where he was a managing partner and ECD for two years.
His departure comes seven months after the agency lost its long-standing account, Vegemite, and six months after CHE Proximity won its client RACV.
However, in July the agency managed to win the creative account for Vintage Cellars.
JWT Melbourne’s clients include Beyondblue, Treasury Wines Estate, Jetstar, Birds Eye, Vintage Cellars, John West and La Trobe University.
JWT Melbourne falling apart
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I love the code “other interests” when people depart.
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JWT has a long history of this type of thing.
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These comments are aldigether bad puns.
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