CB Exclusive – Whybin\TBWA, Sydney snares BBH London CDs Gary McCreadie and Wesley Hawes to replace Dave Bowman and Matty Burton

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GARY-WEZ.jpgCB Exclusive – Campaign Brief can reveal that Whybin\TBWA, Sydney has snared top BBH London creative directors and board partners Gary McCreadie and Wesley Hawes to replace joint executive creative directors Dave Bowman and Matty Burton, who announced last week they were joining Sydney start-up agency Special Group.

McCreadie (above left) and Hawes (above right) have had a brief stint at Whybin\TBWA Sydney before, joining in August 2009 while Garry Horner was ECD.

McCreadie and Hawes leave BBH as global creative directors on Axe/Lynx, the agency’s largest and most creatively awarded account.

They are responsible for some of the most celebrated campaigns from BBH London in recent years, including the Gold Cannes Lion awarded ‘Apollo’ integrated campaign; the ‘Monday/Wednesday’ work; and the ‘Soulmates’ film, all for Axe/Lynx. Additionally, they produced the ‘We Own the Weekend’ campaign for the Guardian, the awarded ‘Aarrrgghhh’ spots for Tango, and the Barclaycard ‘Waterslide’ film.

“Gary and Wes are one of the most exciting creative leadership teams in the world right now. It is a great coup they have agreed to join us,” said Paul Bradbury, chief executive officer of Whybin\TBWA Group. “They respect the power of big platform campaign ideas, having been in the engine room at BBH, working on ‘The Lynx Effect’ for Unilever, ‘Keep Walking’ for Johnnie Walker, and the ‘We Own the Weekend’ campaign for the Guardian. They are outrageously funny, down to earth and strategically driven. They will fit in brilliantly.”

“It’s always very satisfying when great creative people return to work for us,” said Scott Whybin, chairman and regional creative director. “My obsession is teams that get big bold campaign platform ideas that flow easily across every channel with consistency and class. These guys get it.

“Having worked for us in Sydney before they get the tone and pace that is required, plus they have had world class training and experience at BBH London. They are ready to put their own mark on an agency,” added Whybin.