WPP’s creative chief Simon Collins has left the agency group 18 months after returning to Australia to launch 1 Kent Street.
Collins exited as a full time employee in August, and is in the process of setting up an independent creative consultancy.
He will continue to work with the group, and others, in a consulting capacity as well as directly with clients. Since stepping back from WPP Collins has been pivotal in the 'Vote Yes' campaign for Marriage Equality, in collaboration with 1 Kent St and production company Hogarth.
He was ECD at 1 Kent Street, the creative consultancy WPP launched in 2016, and also worked in a group role at WPP AUNZ consulting for other creative businesses around the network on projects and pitches.
Projects included the Australian Olympic Committee campaign in the run up to the Rio Olympics and the 'Road to Recognition' campaign for Recognise.
When 1 Kent Street was set up, it was not intended to be a traditional ad agency, but a flexible, high-level creative consultancy arm. Collins worked closely with chief strategy officer Rose Herceg and group business director Rob Currie.
“The purpose of 1 Kent St is not to replicate anything our existing agencies currently provide, but to help clients who may need a complex, high-level response for a major project or to a business, government or social issue,” WPP ANZ CEO Mike Connaghan said at the time.
It's not clear how his departure will impact 1 Kent Street, or who will step into the role.
The Brit was ECD at JWT Australia a decade ago, where he worked alongside Connaghan, before spending 10 years in the UK and New York in global consulting and agency roles, for agencies including Havas Worldwide and Y&R.
In the UK his consultancy worked directly with clients, and focussed on working with private equity firms who had bought brands and we're looking to increase their value and growth.
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