Tinning exits Marketforce Perth; DDB’s Lennox and Green to return as joint creative directors

CB WA Exclusive – Marketforce Perth and creative director Andrew Tinning (left) have parted company, with Tinning having already left the agency.

Former Marketforce creatives Pat Lennox and Ben Green – currently at DDB Melbourne – will return to the agency as joint CDs, commencing in January next year.

Marketforce chairman John Driscoll said Tinning’s departure marked an amicable and mutually agreed parting of the ways and came as part of a major restructuring and repositioning of the agency: “We are of course sad to see Andrew go and thank him for both thecreative leadership he’s shown and the success he’s helped us achievein his time with Marketforce.”

During his six years with the agency, Tinning has led Marketforce to aperiod of creative dominance locally. He said he left the agency ongood terms, with pride in its achievements and his part in them: “After this many years in the game, one thing I understand is the reality of business and the challenges that Marketforce, along with many other agencies, are facing in the current climate.

“Marketforce is a great brand with an impressive history and a bright future and I wish them nothing but good luck as they reshape, redefine and rebuild over the coming year. During my time at the agency, I’ve worked with some top people and made some wonderful friends who I will never forget. And needless to say I’m proud of my contribution to what has been widely acknowledged as the most successful creative period in the company’s 35 year history.

“Over the coming weeks, I’ll be taking some much needed time out to play with my new chickens,tend to my much neglected garden and carefully plan my next move – wherever, whatever and whenever it may be.”

The move comes after the most tumultuous year in Marketforce’sthirty-six year history, culminating with the loss of cornerstoneclient Lotterywest in September.

Driscoll said that while Tinning would be missed, the agency’s creativeand management teams were engaged and excited about launching into thecompany’s next chapter and building on the success of the past 35 years.

“What we have been working towards in recent months is a refreshed,reinvigorated, agile, passionate and driven agency. The appointments ofRick Multari as Director of Client Services and Nicole Walton asDirector of Strategic Planning have been key planks in that strategyand have already made an enormous difference to our business. With theaddition of Ben and Patrick to head up our creative in the New Year, webelieve we have put together a team that represents the best theindustry has to offer.”

Green and Lennox, who both started their careers with Marketforce,return to the agency after a highly successful six years working theeastern states, most recently with DDB in Melbourne. They have workedon campaigns for Domino’s Pizza, Origin Energy, Target, Heinz, K-martand the rebranding of Coles Supermarkets.

They were amongst Perth most highly regarded creatives when they leftin 2004, with Green ranked no. 5 in the CB WA Creative Rankings that year.