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Pat Baron departs Hero after 10 years at McCann

Hero Melbourne’s chief creative officer Patrick Baron is set to depart the agency at the end of 2021.

Baron had been at McCann for over ten years, including its consolidation under Ben Lilley into the Hero Group just over a year ago.

Pat Baron

The departure of Baron follows a number of staff changes at Hero, with the appointment of Shane Geffen as its executive creative director in Melbourne, following Psembi Kinstan’s departure in September to join DDB Group Melbourne after being in the role for ten months. In Brisbane, Andrew Thompson was recently named executive creative director.

Hero chief creative officer Ben Coulson, who joined Hero from Clemenger BBDO Sydney last year as McCann Sydney chief creative officer, will now lead Hero’s national integrated offering across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Baron said: “I’ve spent more than two decades working with Ben Lilley and it’s been a hell of a ride. I want to express my gratitude and thanks for his support. Ben’s been a driving force for creativity, it’s all about a vision and building a collaborative culture. And there’s nobody better than ‘the two Bens’ – Lilley and Coulson – to continue to drive this. I’m also extremely grateful and humbled by all of my colleagues’ and clients’ generosity over the years. I’ve been fortunate that they’re so damn good at what they do, they’ve made me look good, especially John Mescall and Rob Reilly for their inspirational creative leadership and support during my time at McCann.”

Coulson commented: “Working with Pat is like scoring a first class upgrade on a long haul flight- everything is just that bit classier and you’re weirdly sad when they announce the descent. Thanks Pat, I have loved this chapter with you. You do this gig with charm and grace, I hope some of it has rubbed off on me.”

Lilley added: “I’m privileged to have worked with Pat for over 25 years now, since we were first paired as a creative team at McCann Melbourne in the 90’s. Our work together landed me the first awards of my career and is testament to Pat’s talent, ambition and meticulous standards.

“I was equally privileged to be able to bring Pat back to McCann Melbourne a decade later in 2011, to partner with John Mescall. Soon the agency was ranked by the Gunn Report as the number one agency in the world and named Agency of the Year by Campaign Brief Australia. And today there are 53 Cannes lions and 6 Cannes Grand Prix in our office with his name on them, amongst countless other trophies. Throughout it all though, Pat has remained as humble and as hungry as ever and it’s been no secret that an international move has been on the cards for some time. I look forward to being able to celebrate his many more global creative accolades to come.”

Mumbrella has contacted Baron in regards to his future plans.

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