After nearly three years in the gig, Shaun Branagan has quit NetX, Sydney to join Love Communications Sydney as their executive creative director, to work alongside current CD Scott Waterhouse.
Branagan joined NetX in February 2006 from the ECD position at Saatchi & Saatchi,Hong Kong, where he had been for the previous two and a half years. Before that he was CD of Y&R Sydney, a highlight being winning the 2003 Cannes Direct Grand Prix for client Jim Beam. In 2002, a BRW magazine survey of over 200 Marketing Directors named Branagan as one of the top 5 Creative Directors in Australia.  He has deep offline and online experience and has managed to win awards across all disciplines: TV, radio, press, posters, interactive and integrated.
Since Branagan joined NetX, the shop was bought by BBDO with the intention of integrating the business with Clemenger, while keeping the NetX name.
Waterhouse and Branagan worked together at DDB Sydney in the 90s and the appointment has been welcomed by Waterhouse, who told CB: “It’s great that we’ve managed to secure Shaun. I’ve known him for a long time, having actually worked with him as my creative partner at DDB back in the 90’s, so it’s not only great to have a guy on board who completely gets digital and mainstream, but it’s great know that we’ll be compatible.
"We’ve also both worked at Saatchi, albeit in different offices, so we have a similar approach to great creative ideas. All that’s left for us to do now is to find a new CEO, and then we’ll really be ready to kick arse."
Branagan says he is energised by the opportunity: "To be able to create a modern communications agency is extremely exciting. I'm looking forward to creating an agency that is unique in the delivery and execution of its work, an agency that places integration and digital at its heart, rather than adding it as an afterthought. This is a perfect time to re-ignite Love."
Branagan's role has been filled by former M&C Saatchi digital creative Nic Hodges, who has been with NetX for three months.