Richards Rose strengthens leadership team with two senior hires
Clemenger BBDO’s Joseph Smeaton and Ancestry’s Alex Stainton are set to return to indie creative agency, Richards Rose, as its new head of strategy and executive creative director, respectively.
Smeaton joins after 9 months at Clemenger BBDO as strategy partner, working on clients including V Energy, Tourism Tasmania and BOSS Coffee.
He previously spent time at Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as DDB Sydney, where he led strategy for long-time client McDonald’s Australia for three years. Smeaton has worked on other brands including Westpac, St. George, Ladbrokes, Foxtel, OPSM and Toyota.
Richards Rose leadership team. (L-R): Kristen Sandberg, Tanya Hairman, Digby Richards, Alex Stainton, Joseph Smeaton, Adam Rose, Kate Lee
Meanwhile, Stainton returns to Australia after 9 years in the US where he was executive creative director at Ancestry (aka Ancestry.com) and, prior to that, was creative director at BBDO San Francisco. He has previously worked at AJF, Droga5, Ogilvy and DDB Sydney, and has created award-winning campaigns for some of the world’s best-known brands, including Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
The duo both worked at Richards Rose over a decade ago, and are excited to return.
“I remember walking into the agency when it was just Digs, Rosey and a couple of trestle tables, so it is wonderful to be back and see all they have built over the years,” Smeaton said.
“I’m excited to re-join the team to help our partners’ grow and our agency along with them.”
Stainton continued: “I’m delighted to be back. I’ve been admiring Richards Rose from afar (but not in a creepy way) as the guys have steadily added new talent to their brilliant team.
“There’s some magic to the place that allows them to consistently deliver outsized impact for the brands they partner with, as evidenced by all those Effie awards. Now I’m looking forward to being part of an exciting new chapter,” he said.
Richards Rose co-founders, CEO Digby Richards and chief creative officer Adam Rose, said they are welcoming Smeaton and Stainton with open arms.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joseph and Alex back into our leadership team,” they said.
“They’re both at the top of their game and will help Richards Rose deliver outstanding work for our growing client roster. Beyond being genuinely great people, Joseph brings razor sharp strategic clarity and Alex brings a fresh creative view, especially having been in a client-side creative leadership role.
“The guys are already making a real impact.”
The agency recently became equity partners with White Bay Beer Co, which sees it embedded into the brand’s leadership table, versus being an external consultant.
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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