Long-time Clemenger BBDO executive creative director moves to VML
Clemenger BBDO veteran Richard Williams has been pinched by VML to replace Jake Barrow, who has moved overseas to take on a CCO role.
After nearly 25 years at the Clemenger Group agency, Williams will join VML as group executive creative director for Sydney and Melbourne.
During his time at Clemenger BBDO, he led major accounts including NAB, BMW, TAC and Carlton & United Breweries, and was part of the agency’s senior leadership team, which won Mumbrella’s Creative Agency of the Decade award in 2019.
“I am delighted to be joining VML later this year. I’ve been waiting a long time for the right opportunity to arrive,” Williams said of his appointment.
“The creative ambition of the agency, the strong and talented leadership, and its technical proficiency made the decision very easy for me.
“The creative legacy of George Patterson, Young & Rubicam and JWT is so significant in this country, and I feel privileged to help write the next chapter.”
Williams will lead a department of over 30 creatives across Melbourne and Sydney, building on the foundation left by Jake Barrow.
Richard Williams
Barrow has been promoted to the chief creative officer role at VML Czech Republic, and will begin later this year.
Said to mark a new chapter for VML, the agency hopes Williams’ appointment will allow it to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity.
“If I were to list my favourite advertising ideas to ever come out of Australia… Rich has probably done about four of them,” said Paul Nagy, chief creative officer of VML APAC.
“Even my Dad was impressed when I showed him his work and believe me when I tell you – that never happens. Rich is super talented, really focused on what he wants to achieve, a genuine leader and a lovely human being…we are so lucky to have him and I can’t wait for him to get started.”
Managing director of VML Sydney and Melbourne, Sarah Bailey, added: “Rich comes highly awarded and highly regarded. When we did our due diligence on Rich, the word quality was mentioned a lot, as was the word talented, and when we met him, it was clear that the rumours were true.
“These characteristics are very important to me and the team at VML so we’re all really excited Rich is joining us to build on the incredible creative spirit Jake has cultivated over the past thirteen years.”
Williams will begin at VML in September.
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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.
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