In the clearest sign yet that independent agency CumminsRoss means business, it has nabbed Naked Communications founder Adam Ferrier as chief strategy officer.
Ferrier will also become an equity partner in the Melbourne-based full-service shop founded by chief executive Sean Cummins and executive creative director Jason Ross less than three years ago. He is to start in December.
Cummins said: “I have known Adam and of his work for years. While he was a fierce competitor and intellect, I couldn't help myself agreeing with him and wanting to work with him.
“Adam is a daring, brave and swashbuckling, and he makes people think better. To be able to think radical, you must also first be logical. And Adam has searing commonsense.”
Ferrier resigned from Naked Communications, where he was a founding partner in Australia and the global head of behavioural science, late last month. He has worked at Saatchi & Saatchi and as a psychologist.
Ferrier said: “I have watched CumminsRoss grow rapidly and I admire their work. And it is testimony to their culture that they see room at the top for me. And I am thrilled to become a partner and owner of one of Australia's hottest agencies.
“I have long held Sean in the highest regard. However, the other reason I am so attracted to CumminsRoss is that they have quietly put the genie back in the bottle and put creative and media back together.”
CumminsRoss has been bolstering its senior ranks of late. It recently appointed former Omnicom and then-Photon executive Craig Hart, a retail specialist, as its first chairman. The agency also nabbed Possible managing director Scott Heron as chief digital officer.
“Our agency is not content with being a boutique in size. We owe it to our clients to have the best in the business. Our recent hires is proof of our desire to muscle up. No agency will have better, or more, than we can offer. It's time to scale up.”
Cummins said there are still more big hires in the works.
The other partners in CumminsRoss are managing director Chris Jeffares, creative services director Steven Tortosa, head of media strategy, sponsorship and innovation Kirsty Muddle, head of digital services Faye Collay, head of operations Michelle Wensor and finance director Monique Swallow.
CumminsRoss was established at the beginning of 2011 and has over 90 staff members. It also has an office in Adelaide. Its clients include Fiat Chrysler, Dairy Australia, Tennis Australia, Fonterra, Nike, Jacob's Creek and Deakin University.
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