Our Young Gun profile takes a look at some of the young talent across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.
Today we speak to Bastion Effect account manager Ted Mitchell.
Time at the company?
I have been at Bastion for 18 months.
How long have you been in the industry?
Just over three years.
How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
Thankfully, since leaving school I have always had a clear vision of working in the communications space. That said, I have taken a fairly scenic route in getting to where I am today…
I have played in bands since high school and decided to leave my first full-time agency job to go touring around the country. Since then, things have chilled out a bit on the band front (especially on the back of COVID) and I have been able to fully immerse myself back into the industry which I have thoroughly enjoyed (I do miss gigging a little of course).
Who is your right-hand person?
Bastion is an amazing environment with brilliant and helpful minds around every corner. My day-to-day ‘go to’s’ for advice would have to be our fearless GM Rox Millar and group account director Kathryn Newland who head up our property and business operations at Bastion Effect, which is the PR and communications arm of Bastion Collective.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
If I had to narrow it down to just one thing it would be the ‘concept-to-campaign’ journey you embark on with clients. For me there is an unrivaled sense of accomplishment that comes from this process. From conceptualising ideas and pitching them in, to winning the work or getting client approval, then seeing your team’s ideas come to life in their various forms - that is the best thing.
And the biggest challenge?
This year has been full-on and packed with new challenges that have kept us all on our toes. One major challenge that businesses in our high-octane industry face is establishing (and maintaining) an authentic culture which everyone can buy-in to. This is something I think Bastion does really well and sets you up for success – even in a global pandemic.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
Jack Watts (CEO at Bastion Collective). Sorry mate...
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Our awesome team. Nothing beats a quick 20-minute pow-wow to get the creative juices flowing.
My favourite advert is:
Tooheys Extra Dry - Tongue’s Quest (2003) - In my opinion, this set the bar for modern-day beer advertising and gave the industry more creative license to be as weird, wonderful or whacky as it liked. Carlton Draught’s ‘Big Ad’ is not far behind in second place...
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
That my name is actually John Edward Mitchell - I get called Ted because of my middle name. This is usually a bit of a surprise for people to learn (or re-learn).
In five years’, time I'll be:
Earning my stripes in the industry.
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