Publicis Mojo’s CEO Joe Pollard has made her biggest move yet at the French-owned agency, snaring Grant Rutherford, the highly regarded creative behind Carlton’s “Big Ad” and a bag of other international award winning work as the agency’s new national executive creative director.
The appointment throws up interesting implications for Mojo’s key clients, including Lion’s beer brands, where Rutherford has spent much time on competing brands at Carlton and United Breweries. Rutherford will also be critical for Mojo in shoring up creative firepower on Toyota, where the Japanese giant Dentsu is muscling in on the Australian agency roster dominated by Mojo and Saatchi & Saatchi.
Rutherford was most recently ECD at DDB Melbourne but left mid last year to spend more time on a charity he co-founded, Snow Dome, dedicated to his daughter Chloe who lost her fight with Leukemia in 2010.
Rutherford’s arrival at Pubicis Mojo is a coup for Pollard, who started as CEO in June last year after previous management sold their equity after 17 years.
Pollard told AdNews she had spent five months on a global search through Hourigan International.
“He was my first choice,” Pollard said. “It’s fantastic. It was a big decision for him to come back to advertising. He will be great for rebuilding Melbourne too.” Rutherford will be based in Melbourne but will commute four days a week to Sydney, Pollard said.
Hourigan International’s general manager, Creative, Lea Walker said: “Grant is exactly what Joe and the business needs right now. I am delighted that he has decided to take on this opportunity and can’t wait to watch that business moving forward under their joint leadership.”
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.
Have something to say? Send us your comments using the form below or contact the writer at Paulmcintyre@yaffa.com.au
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.