CB Exclusive: Saatchi’s Sydney lures James Theophane from Holler for group CD role

CB Exclusive – CB can reveal that Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney has lured multi-awarded Holler Sydney creative director James Theophane to the group creative director role, reporting to ECD Michael Spirkovski.

Theopane has been at Holler since being appointed CD in January 2013. Previously, he was at Clemenger BBDO Sydney in the role of digital creative director but left due to cost pressures at the agency.

Says Spirkovski: “This is a significant hire and I couldn’t think of a smarter more inspirational creative leader than Theo.”

Theophane’s appointment comes after a string of senior creative hires as Spirkovski brings in new talent for the future growth of Saatchi & Saatchi.

Theophane is renowned for his innovative, media agnostic ideas. He’s worked in London, New York and Amsterdam, creating groundbreaking campaigns for the likes of Skittles, Nike, D&AD, TED Talks, Audi, Pepsi, Sony PlayStation, Heineken, Hungry Jacks and Wired Magazine.

In 2013 his ‘Telekenize the Rainbow’ work for Skittles, which allowed people to move actual Skittles with their mind, was ranked 7th most awarded campaign in the world (Source: Big Won Report). In the same year his ‘Mimeisthai’ work for TED Talks was recognised as a D&AD Award top 5 pick by then president Neville Brody. In 2014 his work featured in the WARC100’s ‘The 100 smartest marketing campaigns in the world’. And his Hungry Jack’s Shake & Win app featured in the WARC100’s “The 100 smartest marketing campaigns in the world”. He has also won 5 Gold Effies.

Recently his work for Neon Nomads, an installation of giant storytelling teepees, was featured as the centerpiece for the City of Sydney’s 2014 Art & About festival.

Says Spirkovski: “Theo is a rare talent who simply gets great work and always goes beyond to deliver something special and genuinely fresh that no else has ever thought of. Plus he has incredible hair and a mean ginger beard.”

Says Theopane: “I’m thrilled to be joining the family at Saatchi & Saatchi, and look forward to not only contributing to the burgeoning creativity of the business, but helping to fulfil its compelling vision of the future.”