Bastion Collective snares former DDB Melbourne creative lead Jim Ritchie for creative director role

Bastion Collective has lured former DDB Group Melbourne creative lead Jim Ritchie to its growing team as its first creative director.

Ritchie will join the Melbourne-based marketing, communications and advisory group after a five-year term as creative director across the DDB Group of companies.

Throughout his career, Ritchie has been recognised at all the major international industry shows including Cannes, D&AD, One Show and Spikes. His work for Kidsafe/AAMI’s, The Unconventional Oven, recently picked up three Pencils at the AWARD Awards.

An established creative with 16 years’ experience, Ritchie has worked in London and Melbourne at top agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather and J Walter Thompson with clients that included Lexus, Carlsberg, AMEX, Nestle, Dove, Ford, QUIT, Telstra, Momentum Energy, Apia and Vegemite.

Global chief operating officer for Bastion Collective, Michelle Cox, said the company was delighted to add Ritchie’s creative leadership to its mix of collaborative marketing agencies.

Says Cox: “This is a big move for us as we had rebelled against the idea of a creative director with our own creative solution of The Playground, Bastion’s think-tank for brainstorming. But as Bastion Collective grows, we recognise that creativity is a craft that is enhanced by an expert steering the process.

“Jim Ritchie is an exceptional talent in his field and will heighten our ability to connect brands with consumers through innovative campaigns.”

Ritchie said he was enticed by Bastion’s unique approach and desire to embrace creativity: “Our industry is drastically different to the one I started out in with agencies now being asked to deliver great work across more channels with less money in shorter time frames.

“This requires a different approach to what agencies have done in the past. Without giving too much away, the approach of Bastion Collective is a breath of fresh air and I’m looking forward to helping them achieve their ambitious creative and business goals.”