STW SHOCK AS MATCHETT LANDS JWT INDIA CCO CHALLENGE

STW group executive CD Bruce Matchett is about to be lured to chief creative officer of JWT India, a role based in Mumbai in charge of around 250 creatives spread across five cities. CB understands JWT worldwide CD Craig Davis has been a long time admirer of Matchett, a Scot, who was the award-winning CD of Ogilvy & Mather Auckland prior to transferring to O&M Sydney nearly a decade ago. Shortly after he arrived in Australia, JSA merged with O&M and Matchett became national CD of SO&M, even though it meant giving up entering award shows. He was accused by his peers of "selling out to the dark side", probably because he was paid nearly double any other CD in town! He was at SO&M until last year when he stepped up to a group creative role at STW, his former role replaced to some extent by Neil Lawrence earlier this year. According to Matchett, he is looking forward to "cracking some great ads again and having some fun. I will set up ‘shop’ in Mumbai but spend a lot of time chasing things in the other offices - especially Delhi - where Pepsi, Unilever and Ford are so huge. My Coca-Cola experience will help and I've worked on many Unilever brands over the years with Ogilvy. I've also got a lot of car experience - BMW and Hyundai." Recently Matchett spent a two month sabbatical living in a Buddhist temple on the Burmese border, which must have had a huge influence on his decision. According to Matchett, "the seed was well and truly planted on my return to Australia, with the realisation that I was compromising himself, both at work and in my life. It was the old cliché of ‘good being the enemy of great'. I can satisfy all areas of my life in India. There is an optimism and sense of fun about the advertising industry in India that I have not seen for some time in this part of the world."

CREATIVE SHOWDOWN TIPPED AT GEORGE PATTERSON Y&R

Now that WPP has taken over The Communications Group, owner of George Patterson Partners, it will be interesting to see who will win out in the soon to be merged creative departments of Patts and Y&R in both Sydney and Melbourne. Here are some key points from the press conference held at The Establishment in Sydney (the original home of George Patts) on Tuesday: As expected Hamish McLennan will be chairman and CEO of George Patterson Y&R. Current Patts CEO Ian Smith will be departing in a month -- he's taking a break -- with a non compete clause (how long they wouldn't say) -- his future plans unknown. Key staff positions, including who will be national CD, who will be MDs etc, will be decided within 7 to 10 days. Alex Hamill would remain as chairman emiritus, "until the day I die," quipped Hamill. Current national CD Matt McGrath (above) was at the press conference and is staying. James McGrath (top left) and his Patts Melbourne creative department are currently the hottest in the country, creators of the award winning VB and Carlton work, including "Canoe" and the "Big Ad". Ironically, the entire department are former Y&R Melbourne staffers, defecting to Patts nearly three years ago. They will be merging with the Y&R Melbourne gang led by Tony Greenwood (top right), so expect a few casualties there. In Sydney, there will probably be less attrition as both creative departments have been lean and mean for a year, in anticipation of a merger of some sort. Patts national managing director John Fawcett was not at the press conference, but McLennan said he held a lot of sway with clients and would hopefully have a future role. Staff losses: there will be a few, but less than normal as both Y&R and Patts had been running very lean over the last year, said McLennan. Hamill said all shareholders were "absolutely delighted" with the financial outcome of the deal, which was not revealed, but CB heard it goes like this: WPP is paying A$80m for the remaining 70 percent of the business, plus A$40m worth of debt, valuing the whole company at A$155m. McLennan yet to decide where the combined Sydney office will be located -- the city or North Sydney. He will decide within 4 to 6 weeks. In Melbourne, Y&R will move into the Patts office in Collins Street. All companies will come under Young & Rubicam Brands (TCG will be no more). The Zenith name will revert to Publicis Groupe and all current Zenith business will be folded into Mediacom, headed by Zenith MD, Anne Parsons. The Patts brand is here to stay, backed by Sir Martin Sorrell.

BARON GETS SEE CD GIG

Pat Baron has moved from JWT Melbourne to SEE Melbourne as
a CD taking the position newly vacated by Derek Craig.
Baron will assume the role of creative director alongside New Media
CD, Stephen Van Elst, and with Group CD, John Douglas.
Baron was the art director on Ford's Territory commercial, and
prior to that was responsible for Coke's "Camels" and Holden's "Create
a Storm" ute spot.
Says Douglas: "Pat's eye for detail and a passion for great creative will help lift the creative profile of the agency and, working with Simon Hammond will further underpin the already strong strategic offering at SEE."

FCB LOSES CREATIVE LEADERS

FCB Singapore executive creative director Robert Gaxiola is to depart the agency to become the new ECD at Bates Singapore. The news follows the departure of FCB’s former head of art Eric Yeo to the head of art position at Ogilvy & Mather, Singapore.

DROGA VISITS SYDNEY, BUT KEEPS MUM

Publicis worldwide CD, Dave Droga was in Sydney last week catching up with family and friends. Unfortunately, Droga (pictured with Nobby, CD of Saatchi Sydney in Cannes this year) could not reveal to CB the name of his new venture and who his partners are but he promised to reveal all to CB at the end of September when he is due to depart Publicis. He did mention Hollywood, so presume movies are part of the new business. And because he will then be flat out he has had to decline the invitation to judge AWARD this year in Sydney.

HOT NEW CREATIVES FOR CLEMENGER BBDO WELLINGTON

Clemenger BBDO Wellington has added two new creatives to its already star line up.
Ex Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland senior copywriter Dan Moth joined last month to work with senior art director, Scott Henderson.
Henderson’s former creative partner, senior copywriter, Angus Hennah, will be joined in September by AMV BBDO London art director, Paul Young.
Clemenger BBDO Wellington Creative Director, Duster, said: “The move for more senior creative firepower has been prompted by Clemenger BBDO Wellington’s strong growth and a continuing strategy of providing our clients with intelligent, creative solutions."

DAVID DROGA RESIGNS FROM PUBLICIS TO SET UP NEW VENTURE

David Droga, the Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of the Publicis network, has resigned to form a new venture set to start in the new year. Droga declined to provide any details about the new company or his partners other than to say they’re not from the advertising industry. It will be based in New York, where Droga will continue to live, and Los Angeles. “It’s not an advertising venture,” said Droga, “It’s a hybrid of a lot of things. I have a belief in this new model. I’m having a great career, but I’ve spent it working under other people’s models. I think I’d really like to lay down a blueprint of my own. I’d like to have some ownership of it, so there’s more at stake for myself and live or die by my own vision.” Droga plans to leave at the end of September, after finishing projects for Publicis clients that include Vault, Minute Maid and Heineken. Droga was selected two-and-a-half years ago to bolster the Paris-based network’s creative reputation. In that time, Publicis has dramatically improved its awards-show performance. In June, Publicis picked up 11 Cannes Lions and last year it netted 12 -- more than it had won in the previous decade. Droga has added a 17-member worldwide creative board and replaced leadership in several major markets. That has translated into some new-business success. Publicis in New York was recently awarded duties for Coca-Cola’s Vault, a citrus-flavored energy drink. The network’s Paris office was among eight shops invited to pitch creative ideas for a global integrated campaign. Client wins in that time include Zurich Financial Services, Sanofi-Aventis, TBS, and Allied Domecq. “I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Publicis. We have not only established ourselves as a magnet for world-class creative talent. We have created a tight, collaborative creative culture. "Our Global Creative Board is at the center of this transformation. My mandate from the beginning was to transform the Publicis creative output and bolster the network for the future. Certainly, no network has redefined itself as much in such a condensed period of time. "Basically, I have reached a point in my career where I want to establish a blueprint for my own creative business. I am very excited about this new endeavour. But my first priority is to see through several large projects and ensure a smooth transition.” Further details of the new venture will be announced shortly.

SLAVIN AND GOVIER TRANSFER TO COLENSO AUCKLAND

Talented creative team Levi Slavin and Dave Govier are transferring from Clemenger BBDO Melbourne to sister shop Colenso BBDO Auckland. While at Marketforce Perth (part owned by BBDO) last year, the pair were responsible for Office of Road Safety and Brownes Dairy work, both awarded Silver at The One Show and Clio this year.

McCANN AUCKLAND APPOINTS NEW GM AND CD

Nic Harman has been appointed creative director of McCann Erickson Auckland, replacing current CD Matt Simpkins who left the agency on Friday to join FCB Auckland as a senior writer. Harman is joined by John McCarthy, who comes in as general manager. "These new executive appointments are recognition of the potential of McCann Erickson in New Zealand," said Glenda Wynyard, managing director of McCann Worldgroup New Zealand. "Everyone knows the pairing of the MD/CD relationship is key to agency success. With Nic and John, we have found what we believe to be the right formula to help our McCann Erickson clients build greater demand for their products and services." Nic Harmon has been working as a freelance copywriter, and is a former senior creative at George Patterson Partners and TBWA Dublin, and creative director of De Pasquale Advertising in Brisbane.

McKEON SPLITS WITH STRAWBERRY FROG USA

Aussie expat CD Andy McKeon, who was at Amsterdam hotshop, Strawberryfrog before helping to set up a branch of the agency in New York earlier this year, has left and is considering future opportunities, to be announced shortly, according to McKeon from New York this week. McKeon started his career at Clemenger BBDO Hobart, eventually heading to the States, landing at job at Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, before heading to the flesh pots of Amsterdam into the arms of Strawberryfrog.

L&P "STUBBIES" WINS BEST OF SHOW AT ATV AWARDS, BMF AGENCY OF THE YEAR

The hilarious L&P "Stubbies" spot, via MTC Auckland took out Best of Show (and NZ Commercial of the Year) at the 30th annual Australasian Television Awards held Friday night in Sydney. Australian Commercial of the Year was won by George Patterson Partners, Melbourne for Carlton Draught "Canoe". With eight individual awards and commendations across the evening, BMF Sydney took out Television Agency of the Year. The agency won two Trophies for Meat & Livestock Australia (Lamb) “UnAustralian”, and one for Australian Red Cross "We gave Blood" as well as a Craft award for Ikea "Stig" and the Effectiveness Award for Tooheys Extra Dry "Tongue". Other Trophy winners on the night included two Trophies for Big Pond Travel "Holiday" and one Trophy for O'Brien Glass, both via BWM Sydney, plus VW "Pushed" via DDB Sydney, Sony "Wag" via FNL Communications Sydney, Dulux "Ghost" via Clemenger BBDO Melbourne and Canon "Rodeo" via Leo Burnett Sydney. Entry levels were down considerably this year due to competition from the newly formed Kodak Gongs, to be awarded next month, which is run by the tvc production industry and supported by SPAA, until last year a key supporter of the ATV Awards. Also, due to the non inclusion of ATV on the CB Creative Rankings (The Kodak Gongs are included), several prominent creative agencies did not enter this year, including Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, Host/The Glue Society, Publicis Mojo Sydney and Melbourne, M&C Saatchi Sydney, Grey Melbourne and Cummins & Partners Melbourne, plus the four major New Zealand players Saatchi & Saatchi, Colenso BBDO, DDB and Publicis Mojo. Few of the top shops in other states entered either, including Marketforce, The Brand Agency, Linc and Gatecrasher in Perth, as well as McCann, Clemenger BBDO, BCM and De Pasquale in Brisbane and Clemenger BBDO in Adelaide.

THE WORK 05 ANNUAL: BBDO AGAIN NETWORK OF THE WORK, SAATCHI SYDNEY AGENCY OF THE WORK

BBDO is again the top performing network in the region based on acceptances to Campaign Brief's annual publication The Work 05.

BBDO has a total of 68 acceptances making it The Network of The Work 05 with Colenso BBDO Auckland (17), BBDO Bangkok (11) and Clemenger BBDO Wellington (10) leading the way.

Saatchi & Saatchi were the next highest ranking network with 55 acceptances.
Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney scored a mammoth 25 acceptances for the network and Saatchi Singapore contributed with 9.

In third place was Ogilvy & Mather with 37. It is worth noting that O&M’s total is solely from their Asian network, with their Australian and New Zealand agencies having a policy of not entering any awards shows. O&M Bangkok with 10 acceptances is their highest ranked agency.

The fourth highest network was DDB with 36 acceptances. DDB Auckland (15), Naga DDB Malaysia (10) and DDB Sydney (8) contributed nearly all their total. Equal fifth network in The Work 05 were JWT and Leo Burnett with 28 acceptances each.

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney’s record total of 25 acceptances clearly sees them named The Agency of The Work 05. In second place is Colenso BBDO Auckland with 17, followed by third placed DDB Auckland with 15 and fourth placed Publicis Mojo Auckland with 14.

The top performing agencies in the region were:
1. Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney (25)
2. Colenso BBDO Auckland (17)
3. DDB Auckland (15)
4. Publicis Mojo Auckland (14)
5. BBDO Bangkok (11)
=6. Naga DDB Malaysia (10)
=6. O&M Bangkok (10)
=6. Clemenger BBDO Wellington (10)
=9. JWT Bangkok (9)
=9. Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore (9)
=9. McCann-Erickson Singapore (9)

For the past 4 years The Work has compiled the very best advertising from Asia, Australia and New Zealand in a permanent annual record for our region. Acceptances were up 10% on last year due to a 25% increase in entries, mainly from the booming ad markets of India and China.

ANNOUNCING THE MC2 CAMPAIGN BRIEF REGIONAL TELEVISION AWARD

Campaign Brief Asia is joining together with Adoi Magazine in Malaysia to present a regional Television Award at their established Malaysian Creative Circle (MC2) Awards.

It will be judged by two of the biggest creative names in the world - Bob Scarpelli (Chairman and Worldwide Chief Creative Officer of DDB Worldwide) and Mark Waites (Mother London).

This is a unique award introduced to take advantage of the extremely talented jury Adoi has managed to assemble in KL for their awards. It is an exclusive all-in single category and, unlike the other MC2 categories, is for entry by agencies outside of Malaysia. And with both judges from outside our region it will be the first time (that we know of) that local bias will not play a part in a regional judging process.

The MC2/Campaign Brief Asia Television Award is created to honour the best television work across Asia-Pacific. We are being very exclusive with this category - In an effort to ensure only top-quality entries are entered, each ad agency network in Asia will be invited to submit only 5 television spots from their Networks.

The winner could be a campaign or a single ad and Gold, Silver and Bronze awards may be handed out at the judge's discretion. The top winner will be invited to attend the Malaysian Creative Circle (MC2) Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on September 30th, 2005.

Campaign Brief Asia is proud to be associated with this award and will be throwing the whole weight of our magazine behind the winning work after it is judged. We will be asking Regional Creative Directors to co-ordinate the entries of their network so that their 5 best tvcs are entered from all their agencies in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It will be a very prestigious award to win.

Closing date for all entries is August 20 and work must has been aired from August 1 2004 to August 20, 2005. Entry fee for each submission is just US$80.

For all details go to: www.mc2.adoimagazine.com or email Adoi publisher Harmandar Singh at ham@pop.jaring.my

Joining Scarpelli and Waites in judging the Malaysian only categories at the MC2 Awards are: Steve Elrick (BBH), Jimmy Lam (ClipperAsia), Prasoon Joshi (McCanns Asia), Francis Wee (BBDO Singapore), Rob Sherlock (FCB), Thirasak Tanapatanakul (Creative Juice/G1 Bangkok) plus 8 local creative directors.

HOST/ THE GLUE SOCIETY TAKE OUT AFA EFFECTIVENESS GOLD PINNACLE AWARD FOR VIRGIN MOBILE

Sydney shops Host and The Glue Society have won the Gold Pinnacle (and Gold Award) for client Virgin Mobile, at the 8th AFA Effectiveness Awards held last night in Sydney. The win is for the original "Warren" campaign, which won the Cannes DM Grand Prix last year and the recent "5 Cent" campaign, which picked up a Titanium Lion this year at Cannes, one of only four awarded.

Encouragingly for those who believe creativity and effectiveness are not mutually exclusive, many of the Effectiveness Award winners were also major creative winners around the world.
Gold awards went to Clemenger BBDO Sydney for Hahn Premium Light "Spa" and "Bean Bag" and to Bellamy Hayden with VCD Sydney for Sunbeam Electric Blankets. The latter campaign also won the Return on Investment Award.

Silver awards went to BMF Sydney for Meat & Livestock Australia's "We Love our Lamb" (which also won the Long Term Effects Award) and Tooheys Extra Dry "Tongue"; DDB Sydney for Wrigley and McDonald's, iLeo Sydney for Virgin Money, Redsuit Advertising for Griffith University (which also won the Best New Learning Award), and The Campaign Palace Sydney for the "Red Meat, Feel Good" campaign for Meat & Livestock Australia.

GETTY ANNOUNCES BLOOD DONATION

Getty Images, the world’s leading imagery company, has partnered with the Magazine Publisher’s Association (MPA) of New Zealand to offer free access to its still image library for all submissions to the inaugural Blood Magazine.

This new annual concept magazine has been created to showcase the best in print advertising and increase the magazine industry’s advertising revenue.

To be launched in November, Blood is the first magazine originating from the your-name-on-it competition. Conceived as a vehicle for promoting the benefits of magazine advertising, the competition requires creative professionals to submit a unique advertising campaign. The winning agency then goes on to become the magazine’s title owner and editor for the next 12 months.

Blood will be edited by Andy Blood, Creative Director of Whybin TBWA. Blood will control the magazine’s content, design and layout, ensuring it remains true to its founding principle - a magazine created for creatives, about creatives and edited by them.

Lending its support to the initiative, Getty Images is granting free access to its still image library (www.gettyimages.com) for use in all submissions to Blood Magazine.

Commenting on the partnership, James Nicholls, Getty Vice President Asia Pacific, said: "We see this as a good match between ourselves and the creative community in New Zealand. Our content is well positioned to meet their needs. With images that are researched and directed, we're looking forward to seeing what the creatives come up with."

Nicholls said that in supporting leading creative talent in New Zealand, Getty Images expected to see them pushing boundaries within the magazine environment.

"New Zealand is a very creative and exciting place to work. The chance to work with leading industry creatives gives us all a great opportunity to explore what can be done," he explained.
This is the first project of its kind for Getty Images, but one that the company intends to build over the long-term. Discussions are already underway for the sponsorship of a new category at next year’s awards as well as participation in the seminar series.

SAATCHI SYDNEY APPOINTS BARROW NEW DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney has appointed a new Director of Strategy, Adrian Barrow, an Australian who, prior to his most recent role at PBL, spent six years overseas as Planning Director with Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Team One (Saatchi & Saatchi North America) and D’Arcy, Hong Kong. He has extensive experience on brands such as Saturn (US), Lexus, Westpac and the Australian Tourism Commission and brings a wealth of strategic planning experience to the agency. Prior to 1999, Barrow held senior strategic planning and marketing roles with Pure Creative/DMB&B and the ANZ Retail Bank.

Says new Saatchi Sydney CEO, Simone Bartley: "Adrian's attraction for Saatchi & Saatchi is his equal passion for both the development and delivery of the message. This plays straight to the heart of an Ideas Company where the type of solutions required leverage today’s new media environment".

Adds Saatchi Sydney ECD David Nobay: "In my experience, great planning directors are as rare as hen's teeth. In Adrian we've found an exceptional thinker, who can speak the language of creative as fluently as he can unmuddle the gobbledegook of research. I'm looking forward to a great partnership."

Barrow says he is looking forward to joining Saatchi: “Taking the reins of Saatchi & Saatchi Strategy is all about being excited and intimidated, in equal measure. Saatchi & Saatchi consistently turns out world class ideas. It’s an agency that enjoys the respect of its clients and competitors alike. I look forward to rediscovering the role of strategic planning at the agency and, in so doing, helping to transform the fortunes of some of Australia’s most important brands”.

ERAN THOMSON JOINS FREEFORM AS CD ASIA PACIFIC

Freeform, a global collective of creative professionals and strategic thinkers with hubs in Sydney, Melbourne and London, has appointed Eran Thomson as creative director Asia Pacific.

Says Thomson: "Our passion is ideas, and their execution, based on solid strategic insights. From film to fashion to full-fledged branding and marketing campaigns, our conceptual offering is diverse and our studios are fully equipped to deliver work across a broad range of media."

Over the past 14 years, Freeform has produced a wide range of work from theatrical campaigns for independent films and worldwide retail launches of blockbuster DVDs to national advertising and branding campaigns for a broad range of clients.

The latest creative work from Freeform Sydney is the new branding campaign for SBS done in conjunction with Razor Media who won the account from BMF earlier this year.

Over the course of his advertising career, Eran has worked as a copywriter, designer, art director, creative director and film director.

Most recently he was Creative Director and Founder of the Notice Creativity Corporation, an international collective with locations in New York and Sydney specializing in providing unique creative solutions to agencies and brands, as well as developing innovative new products and brands.

Prior to Notice, Eran was Group Creative Director and Art Director working with Neil Lawrence at Whybin/Lawrence/TBWA in Sydney where he worked primarily on Apple, PlayStation, Qantas, and Lion/Nathan’s Distinguished Vineyards.

Previously he helped grow the one-year old New York office of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, working mainly on Reebok, Lipton and the teen-brand, Bolt.

Before BBH Eran was Copywriter/Associate Creative Director of boutique agency West & Vaughan. His efforts there helped earn AdWeek and Shoot Magazine's Southeast Agency of the Year Awards, as well as an agency feature in CA Magazine. (Mar/Apr '01)

Over the past 12 years his work has been featured in Archive, Campaign, Creativity, Creative Review, Communication Arts, Graphis, and Print, as well as, won numerous national and international advertising and design awards including National Addy's, The Clios, Cannes and The One Show.

Thomson has helped teach advertising classes at San Francisco's renowned Academy of Art College and was recently an AWARD School Tutor. His other passions include snowboarding, surfing, old Land Rovers and furniture design.

The Sydney studio is run by Thomson and Jonathan Duncan and is located at 19A Boundary St. No. 102, Paddington NSW 2011. T/F: +61 2 9331 5697.

CLEMENGER BBDO SYDNEY SIGNS UP SENIOR CREATIVE TEAM

Creative Team Gary Dawson and Paul Sharp are to join the Clemenger BBDO Sydney Creative Department as full timers after having worked freelance for the agency since November 2004.

During their time with Clemenger BBDO Sydney they have clocked up the “Big Cats” commercial for Visa, “Finnish Couple” for Masterfood’s Finishing Sauces, “Bowler Boy” and “Kamahl’s Barber” for Masterfood’s Squeezy Relish plus numerous print campaigns including Campbell’s “Real Stock”.

“I was contacted by both Gary and Paul independent of each other even though they are both from the UK,” says Danny Searle, executive creative director of Clemenger BBDO Sydney. “They both had enormous experience and international award success, so I decided to grab them both and team them up before anyone else did. I am really happy with the work they have done for us so far and feel that they have the potential to do great things for our client’s business in the future, watch this space."

After fifteen years working at agencies in London Gary Dawson, copywriter, left the UK on a high note last year after having picked up Campaign Magazine’s 2004 ‘Campaign of the Year’ for his work on a highly popular campaign for the telephone directory service ‘118 118’. The same campaign was also a D&AD and Cannes finalist, as well as picking up Gold and Silvers at the British Advertising Television Awards and British Creative Circle Awards. He worked at WCRS London for five years across all accounts including BMW, CNN, RAC and Vodafone. Previous to that he worked at Mellors Reay and Partners working under Tim Mellors picking up D&AD Silver Nomination, Campaign Press, Creative Circle Gold and other UK awards for work on a boutique ‘Body Piercing Parlour.’

“I have been in conversation with Clemenger BBDO Sydney for the last few months about coming on board officially. Australia, Clemenger BBDO and Danny Searle have made me feel very welcome. I have thoroughly enjoyed my freelance time and feel very excited about the forthcoming creative opportunities and my new life down under,” says Dawson.

Paul Sharp, art director, always intended on coming home and after nine years working in London, now seemed as good a time as any. He was at Collett Dickenson Pearce in London where he produced award winning work for Hamlet cigars and Honda – including a One Show award. He then moved to McCann Erickson where he produced award winning work for Nescafe and Coca-Cola – including a Cannes Silver Lion for a Nescafe TVC.

Says Sharp: “Coming home and getting a gig at Clemenger BBDO Sydney has been fantastic. This is the agency I wanted to work for in Sydney. I have been fortunate to team up with Gary and feel we have produced good work together so far. I’m looking forward to further developing relationships with the clients and continuing to help them build their business by creating award winning work in the future."

NORTON TO CD OF AXIS CAMPAIGNS, BRISBANE

Following a series of significant wins and reappointments including UNiTAB and Harbour Town, Brisbane-based agency Axis Campaigns has restructured its creative department. Richard Norton, formerly the agency's senior writer, has been appointed creative director, while founder Don Blackley will focus on business development and delivering longer-term creative projects. Norton, who arrived in Australia in mid-2004, previously worked as a freelance writer at several large UK agencies. He has also spent time client-side as creative cirector at Zurich Financial Services in the UK.

RYAN DEPARTS BURNETT SYDNEY FOR JWT MELBOURNE CD GIG

Glen Ryan, deputy CD of Leo Burnett Sydney, has resigned to return to Melbourne to join JWT as creative director, replacing Christine Feagins, who departed recently. Prior to joining Burnett last year, Ryan had been a long-term senior creative at Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne. At Burnett, Ryan was CD on the much applauded Canon 'Rodeo' spot - and now he has gone, all creatives associated with that spot are no longer there. The others were co-creators John Kane, Matt Smith and Derek Green.

COLLINS SET TO MOVE BACK TO UK

Simon Collins, creative director of JWT Sydney is planning to return to the UK in the next six months (after 18 years in Australia), and a hunt for his replacement is underway. Collins told CB that he hoped to stay within the WPP network, hopefully based in London.

JWT REGIONAL CREATIVE SHAKE UP

Craig Davis, Australia's worldwide creative director of JWT, appears to be reinvigorating the network, with a number of creative directors being replaced in this part of the world, including Chrissie Feagins, creative director of JWT Melbourne, plus Bangkok based regional ECD on Unilever James Woollett (pictured), together with CD Julian Horton and art director Adrian An, also based in Bangkok. CB hears replacements for all positions are close.

MORE CREATIVES DEPART CLEMS MELBOURNE

Two more creatives have departed Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, this time James Procter and Jacqui Paterson. Procter still has not sorted his next gig while CB hears Paterson has joined The Campaign Palace Melbourne, already the home of former Clemenger senior creatives Tony Leishman (now CD) and Christine Isaac.

PATTS MELBOURNE LEADS INAUGURAL KODAK GONGS FINALISTS LIST

The inaugural Kodak Gongs have announced 88 finalists in 35 categories, judged from 628 entries received throughout the Asia Pacific region in the new annual Awards program rewarding excellence in the craft and ideas of commercial moving images.

George Patterson Partners Melbourne, secured the highest number of finalists in the ideas categories with five finalists, followed by The Glue Society Sydney and Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney with four finalists.

Production Company, The Sweet Shop, received the highest number of finalists in the craft categories securing six in five categories, followed by Revolver Film with four finalists, Silverscreen with three finalists.

The Kodak Gongs, which qualify for the CB Creative Rankings, have been judged in two rounds. The first round to decide finalists comprised an all star line-up from the Asia Pacific region including Andy Greenaway, Regional CD, Saatchi & Saatchi, Bangkok; Tan Shen Guan, Vice Chair &ECD, Y&R China & Hong Kong; Warren Brown, Creative Director, BMF Sydney; Jureeporn Thaidumrong, Freelance Thailand; Nick Worthington, regional CD, Publicis Mojo Auckland; John Merrifield, Regional CD, TBWA Japan; Danny Searle, Creative Director, Clemenger BBDO Sydney; David Nobay, Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney; Bruce Hunt, Director, radical.media Sydney and Jeff Darling, Director, radical.media Sydney.

The second round to judge Gong and Best of Show winners will comprise a panel of international judges from outside of the Asia region, which will be released in August.

The Gong winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation and Industry Party to be held on Wednesday 14th September at the State Theatre in Sydney from 7pm. Tickets are available now at $195+gst. Bookings can be made by calling Two de Force on (02) 9281 8788 or by downloading a booking form online at www.thegongs.org

THE BIRDS TAKE GRANDE ORCA

Colenso BBDO creatives Natalie Knight and Rebecca Carrasco (the latter is now at Saatchi Sydney) won the 2004-05 Grande ORCA in NZ on Friday with their 'Sea Birds' spot for Sky City. Carrasco and Knight pick up a trip for two to Morocco for the win. MTC Auckland team Josh Lancaster and Jamie Hitchcock won the People's Choice Award (and $1000 cash) for their L&P spot.

LAWRENCE HONOURED IN THE US

TVC director Ben Lawrence of Caravan Pictures, Sydney has just been honoured
in the AICP awards in the US – listed alongside Martin Scorsese,
another winner. Lawrence's 'Holiday' spot for Telstra Big Pond, via BWM
Sydney, was one of only three non-US ads awarded.

The spot also is currently ranked number 2 hottest spot in the world on AdFourm. The Museum of Modern Art keeps the winning reel as representative of the time’s best ads. It’s
very prestigious, and it tops off his Cannes Bronze Lion win for Red Cross, via BMF Sydney.

Lawrence, son of Ray, just got a NY agent and is about to start shooting a
short film on a Stephen King story.