Ogilvy Sydney hires Sian Binder as head of art, Michael Ford takes CD of technology role

Following a raft of new business wins and the recent appointment of Saurin Worthington (far left) to head of media, Ogilvy Sydney has added a further two specialists to its creative line-up, further strengthening its creative team.

Sian Binder (near left) joins as head of art across all Ogilvy clients and Michael Ford (above, second from right) joins in the newly created role of creative director of technology, with a primary focus to connect creative ideas with technology. Both appointments report directly to Ogilvy Sydney’s ECD Derek Green (above, second from left) and are effective immediately.

Previously with Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney and prior to that BMF, award-winning Sian Binder has more than 15 years’ industry experience as an art director, designer and head of art. Her work has been recognised at numerous award shows including Cannes Lions, One Show, Clios and D&AD.

Says Binder: “I’m really excited to join the Ogilvy team and work across some iconic brands. It’s great to join an agency that believe strongly in the role of craft and design and I’m looking forward to help shape some beautiful campaigns.”

With a 14-year career spanning international and local roles, Ford joins Ogilvy from DT where he was creative technologist responsible for developing technology focused creative ideas for clients including Optus, IBM, RU OK?, and Tourism Australia.  He was instrumental in creating the technology for Coca Cola’s Colour Your Summer; a world first mobile image recognition technology.  

Ford said joining Ogilvy was the obvious next step in his career: “Creative Technologists need to be both strategists and innovators and most importantly be at the very forefront of the latest technologies in order to bring creative ideas to life,” said Ford.  “My love of technology and ongoing passion for how it reshapes human interactions sums up exactly what I will be able to offer Ogilvy and its clients. I can’t wait to get started.”

David Fox, CEO Ogilvy Australia said the appointments fulfil Ogilvy’s strategy to provide the best creative offering for its clients and bring together a creative skills set which encompasses media, technology, content and creativity within one unified team.

“Ogilvy Australia has created a unique market proposition,” said Fox. “Our new-look creative department takes Ogilvy’s creative offering to a higher level. Working with Derek and his strong team, Mikey and Sian are the perfect additions to the agency’s creative lineup ensuring we combine technology, creative and media, in every creative response presented to our clients.”

Derek Green, ECD Sydney said Ogilvy Australia continues to build momentum after a recent spate of new business wins in the Sydney office: “Ogilvy’s creative department has reinvented itself, and Saurin has already made a massive impact on the way our creative ideas have evolved and are brought to life,” said Green. “The extraordinary change in the KFC work is testament of how Ogilvy has evolved, from the ‘Road to Joy’ (Plucka) and touching ‘Inseparable Love’ film to the highly successful Home Cricket Ground (HCG) summer cricket campaign.

“Now with the addition of Sian’s exquisite craftsmanship to make our work sing and Mikey’s exceptional talent of linking creative insights with tech, our creative offering is world-class.  Mikey has a rare talent; the ability to simplify complex tech discussions so that my simple brain can understand it. Anyone who can do that is a genius. And Sian is quite simply regarded as one of the best in the industry, her deft touch will bring an elegance to all of our work.”