Tag: executive creative director

Australia – VaynerMedia Australia has appointed industry heavyweight Denny Handlin as its new executive creative director, reinforcing the agency’s mission to lead the charge in integrated social-first marketing as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia and the region. 

With a career spanning Clemenger Group, Meta, and TikTok, Denny has led multiple campaigns, built high-performing creative teams, and developed consumer-first strategies that drive real business impact. 

Most recently, as head of global business marketing at TikTok ANZ, he helped shape the platform’s creative direction and spearheaded groundbreaking brand collaborations.

Speaking on his appointment, Denny said, “I couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter at VaynerMedia, partnering with world-class clients to put social at the centre of everything we do. The team here is already known for its innovative, creative thinking, and I can’t wait to get started and push the boundaries of what’s possible in this space.”

He added, “I’ve called TikTok my home for nearly five years, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there. I’ve worked with an immensely talented team and am proud of what we’ve built together. I truly wish them all the best.”

In his new role, Denny will report to Karen Coleman, country manager for Australia, and Woei Hern Chan, VaynerMedia’s head of creative for the Asia Pacific region.

“Denny brings the best of both worlds — a rare blend of big-agency creative expertise and deep platform experience. We’re in our next phase of growth, evolving beyond just great creative and media to a truly integrated, social-first approach that drives business results. Denny is not only an exceptional creative leader but also a builder of high-performance teams and culture — exactly what we need to shape what’s next,” Karen said.

Australia – Accenture Song has recently announced that Hugh Gurney and Joe Sibley will assume executive creative director roles to lead creativity at Droga5 Melbourne, which has been part of Accenture Song.

As part of the continued move towards a more national approach, Hugh and Joe will report into Tara Ford as CCO Droga5 Australia and will work closely with Milla McPhee, chief strategy officer at Droga5 Australia and Matt Michael, CEO at Droga5 ANZ.

“Hugh and Joe are tremendous creatives and wonderful leaders of talent, who we’re sure will continue to help create world class work from Droga5 in Melbourne,” Ford said.

Meanwhile, Michael commented, “Hugh and Joe were our first team in Melbourne and as long-term members of our creative team, we’ve had the chance to see them grow, so it’s a pleasure to have them take roles as Executive Creative Director I Melbourne as we transition into the future as Droga5.”

“Droga5 make some of the best work in the world, so we jumped at the opportunity,” said Hugh and Joe in perfect unison.

The Monkeys became Droga5 at the start of this month, with the aim of delivering outsized impact through outsized ambition and provocative thinking.

Singapore – LePub Singapore has appointed award-winning creative leader Stephan Schwarz as its next executive creative director to lead its Asia-Pacific headquarters. He will build on the growth and momentum that LePub has achieved across the region since opening in late 2022.

In his new role, Schwarz will work closely with Bruno Bertelli, global CEO at LePub and CCO at Publicis Worldwide; Ajay Thrivikraman, chief creative officer at Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia and share leadership of LePub alongside Hanh Kanssen, general manager for APAC at LePub Singapore.

Schwarz joins LePub after being part of the team behind Singapore’s first-ever Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Lions in his previous role. He began his career in public relations and corporate communications but moved into advertising in 2012, lured by the power of ideas and the art of nurturing them. 

He moved to Singapore in 2022 – a gateway to some of the fastest-growing markets in the world. Schwarz has worked with world-class brands in sectors ranging from FMCG to F&B, retail and aerospace, collecting many awards along the way.

Speaking on his new role, Schwarz said, “I’m excited to be joining the team at LePub Singapore. I love its flagship brands and its ability to use data to understand consumers in each market. I love the work the agency has done to create brands that resonate culturally to rise above the competition. Backed by Publicis Groupe’s ‘Power of One’ capabilities across the region, my goal is to create meaningful, locally relevant work that showcases how fascinating and diverse this part of the world truly is.”

Meanwhile, Bertelli commented, “Stephan is an exceptional talent whose vision and leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of LePub Singapore. His track record of delivering award-winning work, combined with his deep understanding of the APAC region, makes him the perfect lead to drive growth in the region. We’re excited and looking forward to seeing how his expertise will enhance our teams to deliver creative excellence and let innovation drive our impact in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.”

LePub Singapore, a part of Publicis Groupe, is behind a series of innovative campaigns in 2024 including Heineken Korea’s LaundroMatch, which won Bronze in Cannes this year; Enjoy the Smoothness, created for Heineken Vietnam in collaboration with Leo Burnett Vietnam; and Playbrary for Singapore’s National Library Board.

Manila, Philippines – Ogilvy Philippines has recently announced the appointment of executive creative directors Chino Jayme, Noah Valdez and Dino Ocampo to drive the agency’s creative strategy, bringing their wealth of experience and innovative thinking to the forefront. 

The creative triumvirate leads a team of young, passionate and multi-awarded creatives across the Ogilvy Group in the Philippines: Ogilvy Advertising, Ogilvy One, Ogilvy Public Relations, Bates CHI & Partners, Soho Square and Pulse Communications; across the agency’s advertising, brand and content, one-to-one communications, PR & influence, and health offerings.

The trio’s collective vision is centered around the concept that groundbreaking ideas can emerge from any corner of the agency, transcending traditional hierarchies. As ECDs, Jayme, Valdez and Ocampo are committed to fostering an environment where creativity knows no bounds.

“We believe in democratising creativity. Our goal is to empower every team member – from junior creatives to account managers – to contribute their unique perspectives and ideas,” Jayme said.

Meanwhile, Valdez commented, “Innovation thrives where diverse voices collaborate. Our role is to amplify those voices and turn them into impactful campaigns.”

Lastly, Ocampo said, “The mindset that everyone in the agency contributes to the creative process is key to fostering innovation and to our continued success. We’re excited to lead by example and inspire breakthroughs across all client projects.”

Speaking about the new appointments, Elly Puyat, CEO at Ogilvy Group Philippines, said, “We could not be more thrilled to have Chino, Dino and Noah as our Creative Leaders and my partners in growing the Agency’s twin peaks of creativity and effectiveness. Creativity has and will always be at the heart of the Ogilvy brand and culture. Our best ideas emerge from the intersection of diverse areas of expertise. By empowering everyone across our Agency to contribute, we benefit from a rich tapestry of ideas borne from various backgrounds, viewpoints, life stages, and cultures.”

She added, “We can count on Chino, Dino and Noah to sustain and elevate the creative momentum in each of our Group’s nine businesses built over the last decade.”

Australia – Havas Host has announced the appointment of Sebastian Vizor as its executive creative director. Vizor will oversee Havas Host’s clients’ creative direction, bringing his extensive experience to help drive the agency into a new era.

With a career spanning over two decades in the industry, Sebastian Vizor joins most recently from The Royals where he led the creative department after returning to Australia from Europe. 

During his time overseas, he worked in agencies including Sid Lee, B Reel, and 72andSunny. Sebastian has earned a reputation for creating culturally influential brands and being a natural creative leader. His work has been recognised at major award shows.

His appointment consolidates the experienced Leadership Team building on the legacy and success of the creative and strategic powerhouse for a new era. 

“We have all admired world-class creativity from Havas Host. I’m looking forward to raising the bar further in partnership with the brilliant Gayle, Ollie and team, to leverage the unusual to make work that matters for our clients,” Vizor said regarding his appointment.

Meanwhile, Gayle While, CEO at Havas Host commented, “Seb’s passion for creating work that impacts culture makes him an ideal fit for Havas Host and our commitment to making work that helps brands get noticed in an attention poor world.

He added, “Seb has brought an infectious energy and strategic approach to the work. He cares about what he does. It’s a combination that’s already delivering exciting outcomes for our clients and the team. We’re thrilled to have him on board.” 

Manila, Philippines – VML Manila has announced changes in its creative team, with the promotion of Maan Bautista as executive creative director and the appointment of Fran Palines as creative director. 

Maan began as a copywriter in JWT Manila back in 2005 and was a key contributor in most of the agency’s wins during this period. She moved to McCann Worldgroup in 2016 and was instrumental in turning the agency into one of the most awarded agencies in the country. 

In 2020, she returned to Wunderman Thompson (now VML Manila) where she has continued her winning ways, while inspiring a whole new generation of young creatives under her watch.

Joe Dy, chief creative officer at VML Manila, said, “Maan has built a career on always fighting for the best idea in the room. She is a special kind of creative leader, in that she combines a sharp strategic intelligence, a precise understanding of the client’s business with award-winning level creative excellence in order to push the work forward. Her impact as a leader is already being felt by the office.”

Meanwhile, joined the company from BBDO Guerrero and had previously been with NuWorks and McCann Worldgroup.

“Having worked with Fran at McCann, I have witnessed firsthand how adept she is at elevating the thinking and creative standards of every brand she takes on. We trust that she will continue her dedication to creative bravery and excellence as part of the VML family. We consider ourselves quite fortunate to have her on board,” Dy added.

Singapore – TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the bespoke global creative agency dedicated to Apple, has announced the appointment of Terence Leong as its new executive creative director for the Southeast Asia region.

Leong brings with him 21 years of experience in innovation and a continuous pursuit for excellence. His unique mantra, ‘Let’s Make Epic Shxt’, embodies his commitment to transformative and pioneering work.

Prior to joining TBWA\Media Arts Lab, he has worked with several agencies, including Wieden + Kennedy Shanghai, JWT, R/GA, and AKQA Tokyo, and has collaborated with clients such as Nike, Google, and Sony.

In this newly created role, Leong will report to Brent Anderson, global chief creative officer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, and will work in partnership with Michaela Futcher, managing director and head of strategy at TBWA\Media Arts Lab Asia Pacific.

Leong’s appointment underscores the creative agency’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovative storytelling and creativity.

Speaking on the appointment, Anderson said, “Terence’s creative vision resonates with our obsessive commitment to creativity. He is known for his determination to redefine what is possible and defy what’s expected. His leadership in Singapore and Southeast Asia will help establish our creative presence in the region.”

Also commenting on his new role, Leong shared, “I’m excited to be surrounded by really smart and passionate people who want to do the best work of their careers. I feel right at home. We’re ready to switch to the more dangerous gear and make work that people can’t ignore.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Ogilvy Malaysia has announced that it has promoted Jaz Lee to the role of executive creative director. 

In his new role, Lee will work closely with Adrian Miller, chief creative officer, and will mainly oversee the creative direction for clients such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Guinness, and Colgate-Palmolive, leveraging his extensive experience and ideas to drive the agency’s commitment to excellence.

During his time at Ogilvy, he has led global brands like Samsung, Guinness, Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Petronas, earning over 150 awards from prestigious international shows such as Cannes Lions, The One Show, and D&AD.

Miller, expressed his delight at Lee’s promotion, as he believes that Lee’s unwavering passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of creative ideas will bear outstanding results.

Speaking about his new role, Lee said, “This marks a huge milestone in my career, and I couldn’t be prouder for it to happen at Ogilvy alongside Adrian, a creative leader I deeply respect as the best in the business. Our focus remains on consistently delivering the best work of our lives for our clients every single day.”

Australia – Host/Havas has announced the appointment of one of Australia’s most experienced and highly awarded creative leaders, Justin Ruben, as executive creative director.

Ruben joins from CHEP, where he led the Sydney creative department as ECD after returning to Australia from New York in mid-2021. 

After beginning his career at DDB Sydney more than 20 years ago, Ruben has worked at a number of leading agencies in Australia and the US, including Publicis Mojo, BMF, BBH New York and Droga5 New York, where he spent four years as group creative director.

Ruben’s work has been recognised with multiple awards at shows including D&AD, Cannes, and The One Show. His ‘Summer rituals’ ad for Drumstick was voted among the best of the decade. Other highly regarded, influential and innovative work includes changing the bagel emoji for Philly Cream Cheese, ‘Read Yourself Better’ for The Wall Street Journal, and getting legendary baby photographer Anne Geddes to change her iconic photo style for Karicare.

Host/Havas CEO Gayle While said, “Justin’s passion for creating culturally influential work that impacts society and brands makes him an ideal fit for Host/Havas and its commitment to making a meaningful difference to clients.” 

“Justin is a talent of the highest calibre, with an infectious energy to success. We’re lucky to have him on board to continue our legacy of creating meaningful, attention-grabbing work for clients. We can’t wait to see what he brings to Host/Havas. It’s going to be amazing,” added While.

Ruben himself commented, “I’m incredibly excited to be joining the agency. It’s the perfect combination of the independent spirit of Host, with the incredible capabilities and smarts of Havas. I can’t wait to create some outstanding work.” 

He fills the role vacated by former ECD Jon Austin, who departed the agency last month after more than a decade working at the agency.

Last March, the agency also promoted Anthony Moore to managing director.

Singapore – Creative agency BLKJ Havas has announced the promotion of Guilherme Machado as its executive creative director to strengthen the agency’s creative offering whilst pursuing more clients and campaigns on a pan-regional level.

In his new role, Machado will work closely with the leadership team to further drive the creative work by combining advertising with authentic storytelling and unique perspectives.

In 2021, Machado joined BLKJ Havas as an associate creative director where he was able to deliver critically acclaimed works for the agency. Before joining BLKJ Havas, he also worked as an associate creative director at agency McCann Australia.

Rowena Bhagchandani, CEO and co-founder at BLKJ Havas said that as the agency expands its regional remit with clients, it will continue to strengthen its position as the APAC Havas creative flagship of the region.

Meanwhile, Machado added, “Creating work that doesn’t look like traditional advertisements has been a key motivator since I started my career, and I can’t think of a better place to continue pushing myself creatively and nurture a team with shared ideals.”

BLKJ Havas is a creative agency that works with brands in culture, entertainment, and media.