CHI London’s Angus Wardlaw to creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi NZ and to partner Tim Huse

EXCLUSIVE – Top London creative Angus Wardlaw is set to depart CHI, London to join Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand as creative director and partner to Tim Huse.

Wardlaw will report to ECD Dylan Harrison who says he’s delighted to welcome Wardlaw to the team: “He’s won a haul of international awards for writing national and global advertising campaigns over the past decade. I’ve always wanted to work with him,” says Harrison.

“After coming to the industry’s attention with the only surprisinglydecent work to ever come out of Peugot out of Euro RSCG, he joined CHIin London where he consistently churned out lovely work on Toyota,Carphone Warehouse, The Times newspaper and The Princes Trust charity.Most importantly, beyond being awards magnets, the work worked. One ofhis last Toyota ads was run in twenty international territories andbecame the UK’s highest recalled car ad for 2009. During the same’dismal’ economic year, part of Angus’s rebranding campaign for theCarphone Warehouse saw Christmas sales increase sales by 200%,” saysHarrison.

In his spare time Wardlaw is a keen sailor and has just written ascreenplay about his Victorian ancestor who led an expedition to findthe Northwest Passage. Says Harrison: “He tells me he wants PeterJackson to make it… as they all ended up eating each other.

“If you want to tease him about it beware, before advertising, heserved as a soldier with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. I think theykicked him out for being too funny.”

Wardlaw is not the only new appointment as Saatchi’s: Simon Wedde is joining the agency to lead the Telecom business, effectiveMay 19th.  Wedde was most recently managing partner at DDB Auckland.

Says Saatchi’s New Zealand CEO, Nicola Bell: “Simon has a wealth of experience on blue-chip accounts; SKY Television,The Warehouse, Wattie’s, New Zealand Lotteries, Frucor, Masterfoods,VISA etc.  Simon comes highly recommended for his strategic skills,ability to transform businesses and deliver integrated engagementmodels.  He has driven results (and award winning creative) on some ofNew Zealand’s most iconic brands.  Simon is particularly keen to bepart of the next phase of the agency’s life.  We are delighted he hasagreed to leave DDB to join us.”