DDB Sydney snares Steve Wakelam and Grant McAloon from Publicis Mojo for group head roles
EXCLUSIVE: In a major creative coup, Matt Eastwood, national creative director and vice chairman DDB Australia, has announced the addition of two new creative group heads to the DDB Sydney creative department: Steve Wakelam and Grant McAloon - the Mojo Sydney creative team responsible for the multi-awarded Boag's 'Pure Waters' spot which just missed out on the Canes Film Grand Prix this year.
Says Wakelam and McAloon: "Obviously we've both had a fantastic
time at Mojo, but we're really looking forward to the new opportunities
at DDB, especially at what seems like such an exciting time for them.
Matt Eastwood and Mark Harricks have big plans for the department and
we cannot wait to get stuck in."
The pair will join DDB Sydney next month, working across a number of clients including Telstra.
"Steve and Grant's work is truly first class. Their Boag's 'Pure Waters' spot, which picked up a Cannes Gold Lion this year, narrowly missing out on the Grand Prix, is easily one of the best campaigns of 2009. Together, they are an incredible addition to the creative department," says Eastwood.
Wakelam has also worked at BBH and Leo Burnett in London, working on clients including Levi's, AEG and Umbro. His previous awards include 2 Cannes Golds and a Silver, 2 D&AD pencils, a gold Andy and a One Show pencil.
McAloon moved to Mojo following three years at Leo Burnett where he worked on Heineken, Canon and WWF (where he helped create Earth Hour), landing numerous awards including a Titanium Lion, two Cannes golds and a silver, AWARD gold, a gold Andy and a One Show pencil.
The move by Wakelam and McAloon continues the exodus from Mojo in both Sydney and Melbourne over the last few months.
The pair will join DDB Sydney next month, working across a number of clients including Telstra.
"Steve and Grant's work is truly first class. Their Boag's 'Pure Waters' spot, which picked up a Cannes Gold Lion this year, narrowly missing out on the Grand Prix, is easily one of the best campaigns of 2009. Together, they are an incredible addition to the creative department," says Eastwood.
Wakelam has also worked at BBH and Leo Burnett in London, working on clients including Levi's, AEG and Umbro. His previous awards include 2 Cannes Golds and a Silver, 2 D&AD pencils, a gold Andy and a One Show pencil.
McAloon moved to Mojo following three years at Leo Burnett where he worked on Heineken, Canon and WWF (where he helped create Earth Hour), landing numerous awards including a Titanium Lion, two Cannes golds and a silver, AWARD gold, a gold Andy and a One Show pencil.
The move by Wakelam and McAloon continues the exodus from Mojo in both Sydney and Melbourne over the last few months.
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good to see gen x and gen y working together
They did the whole campaign?
All the commercials.
Wow.
Best stuff out of Oz in years.
yet one mroe creator of Earth Hour.
is anybody keeping a list?
group head of wha?
Well done boys. I feel the Kavorka is strong in you both.
I would have thought there'd be a few people already at DDB that would be perfect for group head.
Well deserved, always loved the boag spot and the levis Dangerous Liaisons one was amazing too - nice work fellas
That Boag's work is brilliant. A lot of people have been bailing from MOJO lately.
Fucking Earth Hour.
The room must have been packed to rafters when that was cracked.
Practically everyone we've interviewed from Leos has got it in the book.
Was Pure Waters their idea? So no planner involved in that one?
Grant's one of the nicest blokes you'll ever meet in this industry.
Congrats mate, love your work.
- JGB
@Nige
I think there was a tosser involved in there somewhere.
Was it you?
Congrats Boys! and well deserved. I'm sure you'll both kick ass next year.
ms
5:49. What?
The true makers of 'Earth Hour'.
ALL WILL BE REVEALED my advertising friends.
Wait, what? It just missed out at Cannes? Shit, me too. Plus I also just missed out on an Emmy. And I narrowly missed out on a chance to do it with Angelina Jolie.
That's a big loss for Mojo.
Wonder how many books are going to land on Micah's desk in the next week...
Would somebody please translate the preceding comments for us fogies over the age of 16?
Nige,
So a planner came up with 'from the pure waters of Tasmania'?
I think you missed your calling as a rocket scientist.
10:03 I just missed out on missing out. How the hell do you think I feel?
Fucking prick... :)
Nice one Grant. Kick ass.
rf
what is with all this snaring of late? Did they need to be entrapped/caught? Does a terrible fate await them?
I heard the cleaner from Leo's has Earth Hour on her resume.
I always find it interesting that the very agency a top team works in can't promote them or give them some kind of bonus to make them stay... Only when it's too late does that agency end up kicking itself in the arse, and then pays an even lumpier sum to a headhunter than it would have cost to keep that team happy...
6:52 PM
What, what?
Go McAloon. Lovely man.
Rip the arse out of it mate.
And you. Stephen.
Sometimes, 12:50, people just get restless no matter how good the badge value of their current agency is. I think that's particularly true of creative people. We're not governed by logic. There also may be other factors we don't know about. This may turn out to me a good move, or it may turn out to be something they'll regret. I still regret leaving The Campaign Palace at it's height to work at Y&R twenty years ago. But that's life.
True 1:59, but with a resume like theirs if they don't like it, they can always go somewhere else. such is this industry
Australia just missed out on retaining the Ashes this year.
Translation: didn't win.
How many other ads just missed out on the Grand Prix?
How many ads just missed out on Gold?
It's all fucking relative isn't it?
I just missed out on winning that huge lottery the other week. It doesn't make me a potential millionaire.
Good luck, Grant.
We'll all miss you.
Lovely, sweet Grant. Good luck honey.
Don't be a stranger.
S x
Well done stephen, sure you'll do well.
you're a cracker
Tx
12:50 - I used to believe in the 'payrise or I'll walk' theory, but it's never actually worked.
What I've found is 'Ok, I know times are tough, they always are, but this is the standard rate going at the moment. In return, we'll give you XYZ and we really want to stay here' works exceptionally well.
Best of luck in the new digs.
They must have missed Craig's Caxton speech.
Say la vie! We all have different relationships with individuals. Having trouble relating to some of the comments, but hey, good luck. That means there's two desks available in Windmill street.
But you will miss Micah ...
You may be having trouble relating to some of the comments, 3:03 because they are pitched at the literate. It's 'C'est la vie', as in 'That's life'.
8.03pm
''Well done stephen, sure you'll do well.
you're a cracker
Tx'
You're a cracker? what an incongruous thing to write. Sounds english too.
I think that may have been written by Wakelem himself.
Hilarious