Australia – Advertising agency Howatson+Company has appointed Dom Hickey, former head of planning at advertising firm DDB Group Australia, to be its new chief strategy officer.
During her stint at DDB Group Australia, Hickey has worked with various brands such as Westpac, J&J, Coles, and Unilever as well as Domain. She has led the strategy on Westpac’s life moments, the Matriarchs campaign for Carefree, and the Australian launch of Tylenol.
Moreover, Hickey has worked across every dimension of marketing from brand transformation to brand experience. She also teaches strategy at Ad School and Miami Ad School, as well as co-hosts a podcast, The Junior Mafia, to give the perspective of young people in the industry a voice.
Commenting on her appointment, Hickey said, “I’ve been watching Howatson+Company from afar, and I’m delighted to get the chance to join them. It’s an incredible team of lovely people, smart, sharp and on the tools. I’m excited about the work we can bring into the world by collaborating across all disciplines in one place.”
Meanwhile, Chris Howatson, Howatson+Company’s founder and CEO, shared that Hickey is the perfect strategy leader as she is a modern planner and empathic to all marketing disciplines, and understands how these marketing practices come together across the brand and customer experience.
“Her first career was in the police force as a crime scene photographer. What a way to start a career in understanding human behaviour,” said Howatson.
Most recently, Howatson+Company has also appointed Richard Shaw and Jeremy Hogg, former creative directors at CHE Proximity, to be its new executive creative directors, aimed at bolstering the agency’s creatives.
