Paul Courtney to leave Colenso BBDO to start up production studio
Chief operating officer of Colenso BBDO, Paul Courtney is leaving the agency after 16 years.
Courtney has been in his current role since 2016, and revealed on his LinkedIn this morning that he is setting up his own production and studio operation, due to open its doors in January.
Paul Courtney leaves Colenso BBDO
During his time at the agency, it has received almost every advertising award made available, including being named Cannes Agency of the Decade for the Pacific region.
Courtney joined Colenso in 2006 as operations director from Saatchi & Saatchi, and has been ever-present during the agency’s most successful period.
2021 saw a number of senior talent depart the agency, including Levi Slavin who left to join Howatson + Company, while Scott Coldham also left, taking a marketing role.
In his LinkedIn post, he said: “After 16 years at Colenso, I’m here to share that I’m finishing up tomorrow. Some thought it would never happen. Heck, I thought it would never happen. But it’s time to take the leap and start something new.
“I’m heading out to start up my own production and studio operation. Starting a business right now is pretty freaky, but I know I have the support of a whole bunch of incredible people and I’m sure that, with a bit of hard work, it will all pan out.”
He also thanked a number of colleagues he worked with during his time at the agency.
“I’m fortunate to have learnt from some very special leaders: Roger MacDonnell, Brent Smart, Richard Maddocks, Nick Worthington, Nick Garrett, Scott Coldham, Maria Devereux, Jim Moser, Jim Gall, Mike Higgins, Strahan Wallis, Levi Slavin, Steve Cochran, Kimberley Ragan, Simon Vicars and the fantastic Angela Watson. Thanks for leading me and thanks for teaching me, I appreciate it so much.”
Watson, managing director of Colenso BBDO told Mumbrella: “Paul has served Colenso for 16 years and leaves with our very best wishes and support. He is an absolute legend and we look forward to working with him in the future, albeit in a new capacity.
“The agency is growing year on year and we expect to make some exciting announcements about new talent in the coming weeks.”
Courtney was approached for further comment.
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Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
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