Adrian Mills returns to McCann Melbourne in MD role after six months with Clemenger Melbourne

McCann has announced the appointment of Adrian Mills (left) to the role of managing director of McCann Melbourne, 6 months after he left the agency to join Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne as group account director on CUB.

Mills was previously group account director at McCann, overseeing some of the agency’s most awarded campaigns of the past two years, including its back-to-back Cannes Lion Grand Prix winning Dumb Ways to Die and V/Line Guilt Trips campaigns, as well as the Lion winning Macquarie Dictionary “Phubbing” and Department of FaHCSIA “Impossible Orchestra” campaigns and other highly awarded work including Google “Books”, Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation “100 Day Challenge”, Metro Trains “Metro Notify” and Tigerair “Infrequent Flyers”.

McCann’s creative and effectiveness awards success over the past two years saw it bring home a record-breaking Lions haul last year, including 5 Grand Prix, and this year’s Grand Prix for Creative Effectiveness along with more Lions. Its Effies effectiveness success has now seen the agency ranked 3rd in Australia in the 2014 Global Effies Effectviness Index. And in February, the agency tied for first place with Nike’s agency Wieden+Kennedy Portland in The Gunn Report.

McCann Melbourne has been without a Melbourne managing director for almost two years now.

Says Pat Baron, McCann Melbourne ECD: “Our significant new business wins over the past 12 months, including Pac Brands, Bendigo Bank, Victorian WorkCover Authority (previously WorkSafe) and Art Series Hotels, plus significant new business interest as a result of our ongoing awards success, made now the right time to reopen the role.

“Our ongoing creative and effectiveness output and reputation are a key McCann business priority and key business growth driver. And Adrian has proven he knows how to help our teams deliver. He’s the world’s most creative suit. But he’s also a digital suit who knows how to help our clients’ brands explode through their digital platforms.”

According to Baron, the Melbourne office is currently interviewing for more creative and digital roles on the back of its recent new business growth, which he expects to be further boosted with Mills’ appointment.

Says Baron: “Adrian is one of the most ambitious people I’ve ever worked with. He’s an animal. His creative ambition is matched only by his ambition to continue to rapidly grow our business.”