M&C Saatchi appoints top creative duo Mandie van der Merwe + Avish Gordhan as joint-ECDs
CB Exclusive – Multi-award winning creative duo Mandie van der Merwe and Avish Gordhan have been appointed joint executive creative directors of M&C Saatchi Sydney.
Recognised at D&AD, Cannes, The One Show, Spikes Asia, AWARD, ADMA, the Loerie Awards and many more local and international shows, van der Merwe and Gordhan have worked across three continents in the past 10 years.
The pair were previously CDs at Cummins&Partners Sydney and departed in July last year. The duo led Cummins&Partners Sydney to become one of the Top 20 Independent Agencies in the World and Spikes Asia Independent Agency of the Year. Most recently the team was awarded Best in Show at AWARD for Stop the Horror (Go Gentle Australia). Prior to Cummins&Partners they were senior creatives at TBWA\Sydney. They have previously held roles at The Jupiter Drawing Room, DraftFCB Cape Town, TBWA/Hunt Lascaris, Fortune Promoseven Bahrain and Black River FC.
They have a particular focus on effective creativity which has yielded awards at the Global Effies, the Australian Effies and South Africa’s APEX Awards for effectiveness. Past clients include Fox Sports, Nando’s, Tourism New Zealand, David Jones, MINI and Virgin Money.
Says Cam Blackley, chief creative officer of M&C Saatchi: “This is a coup for M&C Saatchi. As we look to flex our creative capability and offer, I couldn’t think of a better, more creative duo to fill the ECD hot seats. Mandie and Avish are pure quality. They are lovely, thoughtful, quirky individuals who genuinely care about the work and have a formidable track record in non-traditional thinking. Throw group creative director Andy Flemming into the equation and we have the right leaders in place to really make some truly special work in the foreseeable future.”
Says van der Merwe: “The first time we met Cam, we knew we loved him. He has a wicked sense of humour and is very generous with his creativity. He is also really articulate about the vision for M&C Saatchi. Everyone here has a real love for this business and there’s a determination to shape not just this agency but also the industry.”
Says Gordhan: “There is an intimidatingly deep pool of creative talent and experience at M&C Saatchi. So to be part of this team, and to build and grow with it, is both very exciting and humbling. I feel invigorated by this opportunity.”
The appointment is effective immediately.
36 Comments
Great hire Cam and huge congrats to Mandie and Avish!
…which one of those two people I love the most.
Congrats you legends!
Both legends and incredible creatives. Congrats guys!
Lekker lekker fire cracker!!
What about Flemming and Gibbo?
I can’t see Shane or Andy who have a wealth of knowledge and experience under these guys.
Sorry, but I can’t.
Well done to you both I knew you were fantastic from the moment we met.
Congrats. Two of the best humans right there.
Congrats Mavish, no doubt you’ll do incredible things.
Fabulous news! Congratulations Mandie and Avish.
Who dis!
Yay, you’re out of the freelance market!
Not a moment too soon.
Hi Andy
Who fucking cares?
Two of the very best in the business! Couldn’t be happier for you.
Congrats. Great news.
Legends you both. Kill it.
Good thinkers. Good presenters. Great asset.
@J – ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Ahhhhhhhhhh, my sides hurt – good one.
Glad I could bring on some laughter 😉
They seem a little light-on for this role. Not too sure why you’d hire these guys for the top job when they’ve only been CD’s for 18 months. I know I wouldn’t take them seriously.
CDs
No apostrophe
🙂
You’re probably the one who wouldn’t sign Ronaldo because he hadn’t played in the Premier League. Or publish Harry Potter because dear JK she’d never written before. You probably laugh at new jr creatives concepts and then are secretly jealous. Frankly, I’m amazed anyone takes you seriously…
Get a grip. Comparing an advertising creative team to sporting prodigies and geniuses of literary writing is embarrassing!
Yikes… not bad but not ECD level by any means… unfortunately they won’t last long … I wish them luck though
When’s Tibor going to have a crack at ECD?
You need to stop gripping it.
Trigger warning?
I was merely pointing out that in your argument about being taken seriously in the creative communications industry, was ironic, given your misspelling.
whisky glass raised – congrats you two
Are you some sad sort-of last word person?
Refreshing to see ‘newschool’ and freelance being promoted for once. Well done guys and M&C, a step in the right direction I’m sure.
Here’s the truth.
I’ve never met these guys but I know they will do better in their jobs than you will in yours. All of you.
You’re welcome.
T.O.
This is all a moot point. Everyone knows who the real leader of the creative department is over there.
The less you get. Less money (you fall behind the industry average ‘cause they pay less). And less respect: they routinely hire people instead of promoting them. Now Andy & Shane are getting the Ben Welsh treatment.
Some things never change.
Lekker, lekker. Fok al die negatief taal. Hulle is net jaloors. Ek is ‘n ou ECD wat die selfde kak praat toe ek ‘n ECD rol gekry. Die mense hier kan dit nie vat nie. Jy kan sien ek praat Engels by die hius en skryf in Afrikaans net om kak te maak. Veels geluk. Miskien kan jy my ‘n bietjie werk stuur want ek is te oud om in die bedryf te werk. Totsiens piele mense.
Dis a rivier vol kak wat jy praat. Jou blouvis. Jou verlepte ou doos.
Jou pa se perd de dubbelde stupplede poespiel.