DraftFCB Auckland poaches Regan Grafton from DDB for joint executive creative director role – James Mok promoted to group ECD Australasia

March 2 2012, 11:36 am | BY Lynchy | 2 Comments

regan3.jpgWith the arrival of major new clients Air New Zealand and Vodafone, DraftFCB Auckland has lured  award-winning DDB Auckland creative director Regan Grafton to the role of joint executive creative director. 

After eight years with DDB, Grafton is ready for new challenges, having produced renowned campaigns such as Lotto’s “Wilson”, Steinlager’s “White Can”, Instant Kiwi’s “Get a Perm” and online brand nzgirl.

Regan will share ECD responsibilities with Tony Clewett, who has been creative director at DraftFCB for the last four years.

Grafton and Clewett will report to current ECD James Mok, who will become group ECD Australasia.

Says Mok: “We’ve always been very deliberate in the way we’ve managed our growth. We’ve had an amazing team who have made an enormous contribution to our success in the last few years. It’s important that we have the right people and structures in place to ensure we continue to deliver the creatively effective work that has driven our success, and that of our clients.

Screen shot 2012-03-02 at 11.27.14 AM.jpg“I’m really excited to have such a highly awarded creative leader in Regan joining us and working alongside Tony. Tony has led the agency to win Caples Golds, Axis Golds and to dominate the RSVPs for the last three years. As well as being super-talented, Regan’s an excellent cultural fit. They’ll make a great joint ECD team as they worked together many years ago early in their careers,” says Mok (left).

Says Grafton: “I’m really looking forward to my new role and am thrilled to be joining an agency that has doubled in size over the last four years. My advertising philosophy is simple – to produce work that is loved and that truly connects with New Zealand.  I feel a great natural fit with DraftFCB, which genuinely lives up to its moniker ‘The Change Agency’.”

As Group ECD Australasia, Mok will be responsible for leading the on-going pursuit of creative excellence and talent development across New Zealand and Australia while the day-to-day management of DraftFCB’s creative product will be overseen by the creative leads in the Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne offices.