Australian Defence Force Recruitment appoints VMLY&R as new creative and digital agency

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DFR copy.jpgVMLY&R has been appointed to the prestigious Australian Defence Force Recruiting (DFR) creative and digital account following a detailed evaluation process. The incumbent was Host/Havas, who had held the account for four and a half years, taking the business away from Y&R back in 2013.

As the creative agency, VMLY&R will provide all creative communications and digital services under the government contract from 1 April 2019.

Says Sue McGready, director general, Defence Force Recruiting, Air Commodore: “VMLY&R bring experience and expertise that will enable DFR to recruit Australian Defence Force members into the future. We look forward to developing a strong partnership with the team at VMLY&R over the coming months to set us up for the years to come.

“I would also like to thank Host/Havas for their achievements with DFR over the past four and a half years in an industry that has seen rapid expansion and change.”

VMLY&R’s executive leadership team of Paul Nagy, Aden Hepburn and Peter Bosilkovski said: “We’re honoured and delighted to be partnering with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – a modern, innovative, people-focused organisation and one of Australia’s largest employers. This is both a new business win and a homecoming for our agency group, with Y&R previously having held the account for more than a decade. We’re thrilled to be once again partnering with the ADF and of course, very proud to be entrusted to provide our services to support the recruitment of members for all three Services of the ADF.

“The win showcases the full-service power of the newly merged VML and Y&R agencies who jointly tendered for the business, bringing world class digital experience and innovation together with one of the most famous brand experience agencies of all time. The newly formed VMLY&R will flex its full-service offering through creativity, technology, data and culture to deliver communications across the entire connected customer experience.”

VMLY&R executive creative director, Jake Barrow, is looking forward to working with DFR again. Says Barrow: “To say I’m proud to be working with DFR again is an understatement. Our previous years with DFR produced many career highlights for our staff and I can now call this moment another. I’d like to give a huge thanks to the passionate and talented team at VMLY&R who are all raring to start.”

 Says Laura Aldington, CEO, Host/Havas: “Whilst this is obviously a disappointing outcome for us, we wish the Defence Force Recruiting team all the best.

“I want to thank the incredibly talented, dedicated team at Host/Havas, who helped deliver DFR the two most successful years in their history, guiding them through a period of significant digital transformation.

“They should feel justly proud of the last five years and the amazing contribution they have made, in particular the recent awarding of the Australian Grand Effie.

 

“We will now take some time to recalibrate, adjust and set ourselves up to continue delivering great work for our clients in 2019 and beyond.”

 

Transition to the new contract arrangement began on 14 January 2019 with handover of the CADS services to VMLY&R on 1 April 2019.