CB Exclusive – R/GA Sydney lures former TCO MD Jon Holloway for managing director role
Campaign Brief can reveal that R/GA Sydney has lured Jon Holloway – until last month Sydney MD of The Conscience Organisation – to join its rapidly growing office as managing director.
Reporting into Jim Moffatt, R/GA’s EVP Managing Director Asia Pacific, Holloway will be responsible for the overall growth of the office, driving and shaping the office’s long-term strategic roadmap and vision, developing new business and overseeing the recruitment of the top talent in the region.
“Jon’s rich history in digital innovation made him absolutely the right fit for us. We’ve made sure we handpicked one of the best digital experts in the business for this job.” says Moffatt. “He’s someone who shares R/GA’s unique DNA and understands the importance we put on innovation, so we’re delighted to have him join. He’s a strategic thinker, with digital at his core, who has all the ingredients and expertise to ensure R/GA Sydney office continues to go from strength to strength.”
R/GA Sydney has enjoyed a solid period of growth since opening its doors in January 2013, growing to over 40 in headcount, hiring some of the most talented creatives and technologists in the region, including the recent senior hires of Hamish Stewart (ECD), Noel Billing (ECD) and Jeff Donios (senior technology director), and partnering with some of the region’s leading brands such as Telstra, ANZ and Qantas.
Adds Moffatt: “Jon’s proven experience in delivering creative excellence and providing innovative thought leadership will enable the office to expand both its client roster and its own multidisciplinary teams, while also helping the office continue to create innovative new digital platforms for brands in the Pacific Rim Region.”
“From the moment I met the outstanding team here in Sydney, I knew this was the right place for me,” says Holloway. “Having had the pleasure of spending time with Nick [Law] and Bob [Greenberg] in New York as well, my background, passions and the R/GA ambitions are totally aligned. I am very excited about working with Jim, the local team and taking advantage of the global network to really bring innovative and unique work to Australia.”
An industry veteran with over 15 years’ experience, Holloway has a long history in digital innovation. At The Conscience Organisation he was responsible for significantly increasing revenue, winning and expanding innovative digital accounts such as Nestle, Samsung, Optus, CPW, J&J and Coca-Cola and overseeing the output of award winning work. He also helped recruit and grow a highly diverse and skilled team as well as launching training and consulting arm to help client’s transition to a digital world. During his tenure he also repositioned the business to be a full service creative and innovation organisation.
Prior to The Conscience Organisation, Holloway served as head of strategy at The Works Sydney on the executive team, launching its hugely successful social department and helping to structure and build the creative strategy team. He also took a lead role in winning the global Jim Beam account as well as the Woolworths Everyday Rewards business. Holloway and the social team launched the #HumanBrochure campaign for Canberra, which is still running today and has won multiple awards around the world for innovation and effectiveness.
Before relocating to Australia, Holloway was based in the UK and spent two years as chief digital officer at Hurricane, growing the business and winning new clients in both the B2C and B2B world with Samsung, Adobe, Animal Friends and Medion.
17 Comments
Jon’s a top man, R/GA Sydney will be an agency to watch in 2015.
Well done R/GA, that man will shake things up for sure.
Congrats Jon! Good move.
Can someone please educate me on the ‘award-winning’ work that Jon has overseen at TCO? Or any award-winning work that TCO’s done – for that matter?
Nice stuff Jon!
Are there now 4x ECDs at R/GA?
Well done Holloway!
Well done Holloway!
We need 4 ECD’s for all of the great work we’re prodcuing
They have perfected the agency model. All ECD’s, no planners, no clients, no work. Kudos.
Awesome dictator pose.
I hear R/GA employ multiple ECDs to lead different types of work and therefore able to chase different avenues of revenue. Some ECD’s are digital/platform focused (which a lot of agencies choose not to gear up for) and some ECD’s are campaign focused. Makes sense.
Just wait until they discover the title: Chief Creative Officer – all hell will break loose.
Congrats Jono! talk about the perfect match.
They already have one: Nick Law.
Congrats bud, perfect match!
YEWWWW! Congratulations Jon