McCann moves John Mescall to global ECD role
John Mescall has been named the global executive creative director of McCann, as the agency looks to strengthen its creative offering across the globe.
The move comes just a week after Pat Baron, the creative director on the multi-award winning Dumb Ways to Die, was made ECD of the Melbourne office, after Dejan Rasic had been hired to the same role in Sydney, with Mescall as Australia ECD.
This triggered speculation Mescall would move to a wider role within the McCann group, but when approached for comment Charles Cadell, president of McCann Asia Pacific, said there were “no plans” to move him to a regional role.
Ben Lilley, chairman and CEO of McCann Australia said: “We are ecstatic for John – and equally so for Pat and Dejan – and the fantastic opportunities this move creates for all three.
“It’s a wonderful endorsement of the world-class creative output our entire Australian operation has been producing over the past two years. In Pat and Dejan we now have two of Australia’s most awarded ECD’s leading our creative output. And I am incredibly excited for what they will be able to achieve together and working with John in his global role.”
McCann’s global creative chairman Rob Reilly said in a statement: “John’s all talent and no ego and he has helped lead McCann Australia to become one of the best agencies in the world.
“John now has the opportunity to magnify what he does on a global stage. I am certain that John’s reputation for delivering stellar work will be a magnet for recruiting the best and brightest to McCann.”
While Dumb Ways to Die shot to prominence last year winning five Grand Prix among 18 Lions at Cannes, McCann Melbourne’s less talked-about V\Line Guilt Trips campaign picked up the Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix at this year’s festival, one of two so far for Australia.
I the statement Mescall said: “It’s a seriously exciting time at McCann. The opportunity to work closely with Rob was just too big not to take, and we’re very aligned on the kind of work we seek to do.
“He has a very ambitious agenda for the network and wants creativity to permeate everything we do. The move allows me to leverage my experience, and I look forward to playing a bigger role in our collective future.”
Alex Hayes
