After only 7 months at The Works Mark Harricks joins VCCP Sydney as executive creative director

VCCP Australia has snared Mark Harricks from The Works Sydney as its new executive creative director, working alongside ECD Dean Hunt.

One of the most awarded and respected creative leaders in Australia, Harricks – who only joined The Works in July last year –  departs for VCCP having built his reputation in the region at JWT, DDB and Clemenger BBDO.

As ECD, working alongside Hunt, he will lead VCCP’s creative output across agency clients such as Compare the Market, Appliances Online and also ING Direct, following VCCP’s appointment as lead creative agency in December 2014.

Says VCCP managing director Peter Grenfell: “Mark’s track record speaks for itself, he’s going to be a fantastic creative leader at VCCP. He’s also a thoroughly nice guy, which is equally important. With this team in place, this is an agency who can and will compete with the very best.”

Harricks has worked at some of the most well known agencies in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. As ECD at JWT Sydney he oversaw a creative repositioning of the agency in addition to the launch of its Perth office and sitting on the JWT Australian and New Zealand board. He made a significant impact on the work this year with JWT becoming one of the most awarded agencies in Australia at Cannes. Prior to that he was creative director at DDB Sydney for almost three years helping grow it to become one of the biggest in the region. From 2001 to 2008 he was creative director at Clemenger BBDO Wellington which was the most highly awarded agency in the most highly awarded network (BBDO) at Cannes in 2007. He has also worked at FCB Sydney, George Patterson Bates Sydney and TBWA GGT Simons Palmer in London.

During his career he has received wide industry recognition including winning a highly coveted Cannes Titanium Integrated Lion in addition to D&AD, Clio, One Show and AWARD accolades. He is also the chairman of Australian Writers and Art Directors (AWARD) and has been on the national board for the Communications Council for the past two years.

Says Damian Pincus, founder and creative partner of The Works: “Mark joined The Works over six months ago with a specific task and role in the agency and due to his talent, energy and skill he has completed this earlier than we thought possible. We thank him for all of his hard work and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

Says Harricks: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Works and working alongside the great team there. I look forward to watching it continue to go from strength to strength.”