Ogilvy scraps plans for ‘the most expansive creative role in Australian advertising’
Ogilvy Australia has scrapped plans to find a national chief creative officer to operate across its Sydney and Melbourne offices.
Tom Moult, who is 9 months into the job as Ogilvy Australia’s executive chairman, announced in May he intended to create the position, which would be “the most expansive creative role in Australian advertising.”
However he told Mumbrella that given the size of Ogilvy Group – which is the largest agency brand in Australia – a creative director tasked to cover both offerings “would just be too hard”.
“It’s not the sort of role you could parachute someone in to do both jobs. It’s a role you could grow into, but not be hired into,” he said.
“There’s too much ground to cover, and I didn’t think we would do justice to our clients to spread someone so thin.”
Moult added that the agency would be hiring an ECD for each office instead, following two senior creative departures.
In May, Ogilvy lost two ECDs in ten days, first Michael Knox leaving the Melbourne office to join Grey, then Chris Ford leaving the Sydney office to return to the US.
Last week, Brett Howlett was announced as Ogilvy Sydney’s new ECD, joining from Archibald Ingall Stretton New York.
The search continue for an ECD for the Melbourne office.
topics
Brett Howlett
Chris Ford
Michael Knox
Ogilvy Australia
Ogilvy Melbourne
Ogilvy Sydney
Tom Moult
I did, I believe, say at the time that it was, “An option we were looking at.” As Robin points out, we have opted to hire two very senior people, instead of one. The principle reason being that it better suits our clients’ requirements. Tom
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For top level creatives and agency execs.
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Tom Moult is one of the few good people in the biz who has risen to the top without being a c*nt.
Having worked with Mr M, if he changes his mind re this I accept its for a good reason.
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I agree 100% with Fred. Ogilvy are in good hands. Tom has got one of the best minds and attitude (good guy in a sea of seedy prima donnas and insecure b*tches) in the business.
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