Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed TBWA Hunt Lascaris ECD Damon Stapleton as executive creative director, filling a role that has been vacant for over a year.
The last ECD at the agency was Steve Back, who left the agency last November to join Ogilvy Singapore as chief creative officer. Back had been at the agency for three years, and had replaced creative guru David Nobay, who now runs Droga5.
Australian born Stapleton is the first senior hire since the arrival of chief executive Michael Rebelo in September.
Rebelo took the reins at the troubled Sydney office after the departure of CEO John Foley.
Rebelo said: “I’ve resisted shuffling the creative deck chairs in the Australian market because I really want to freshen things up.
“I’ve been looking globally for someone who is world-class in both ideas and craft and has one eye already on the future. Damon is indisputably one of the best ECD’s in the world and importantly a top guy with a unique sense of humour.”
Rebelo has hinted that he plans to make significant changes at the agency, which has been on the decline lately, with major client losses and staff departures.
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