Four out and two in as McCann Sydney restructures creative department
Four McCann Sydney creatives abruptly 
left the agency on Friday amid a wholesale restructure of the creative department led by ECD Michael Raso, who joined the agency in January from McCann’s New York office.
The news comes as McCann announced the appointment of Neil Flory (pictured, centre) to the new role of deputy creative director, and Patrick Chambers (pictured, left) as art director, today.
Raso said that the departures were “tough calls to make” and were part of a restructing effort to revitalise the agency’s creative offering.
McCann would not reveal the names of the departing creatives, but confirmed that four people left the agency. Senior and junior creative team members and a designer were among the departees.
Neil Flory joins McCann’s creative department with 15 years experience in countries such as Singapore, where he was group head at Ogilvy, and the Czech Republic, where he was creative director of Lowe Prague. He has won awards at Cannes and One Show.
Chambers joins following stints at Canadian agencies Taxi and Hot Tomali.
Raso commented: “Neil and Pat are great guys who both have a proven track record and will bring a ton of energy into McCann.”
“Neil’s an excellent creative thinker whose sense humour and unique sensibility shines through in the work he does. I think he’ll have quite an impact on the place.”
(Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy).
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Tim,
In the headline you refer to four Creatives being given the chop, but later it seems there are five people that have been fired – 2 teams (of two I guess) plus a designer.
Am I to take it that you consider Designers working in advertising as not a part of the Creative Department and not considered to be a ‘Creative’.
As a designer that was exploited by talentless art directors for years in advertising, I am so bored with this kind of distinction and am surprised to see it still continues.
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@Joe I have heard similar from others
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Hi Alison,
Our original information said four people. Now looks like five. We’re awaiting clarification from McCann…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Hi Alison,
We’ve just had confirmation from McCann that there were four people to leave the agency last week. I will amend the story accordingly.
Cheers,
Robin
Congrats Neil. Welcome back to Sydney.
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Oh, the brown nosing has alrteady started………
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