Chess boards Clemenger BBDO juggernaut
CB Exclusive – Campaign Brief can reveal that Luke Chess, who has just announced he is departing the CD gig at Lavender, has accepted a creative director role at Clemenger BBDO, Sydney.
Chess,who was CD of Saatchi & Saatchi, Auckland for two years from January 2008 until January 2010, and was ranked among the world’s top 20 CDs in the Big Won Report at Cannes 2009, will be in charge of several key pieces of business.
Clemenger BBDO, Sydney has been on a massive new business roll in the last few months, picking up Foxtel in December, Hungry Jacks in December and Virgin Blue in September.
Joint executive creative directors Mike Spirkovski and Paul Nagy (left) told CB they are thrilled by the hire: “Luke brings so much with him to the agency. His talent in unquestionable, but he will also add so much to the culture of the place and further strengthen our focus on world-class work. He’s also got a whopping great chin, and a name we can pun the life out of in future press releases: Checkmate – Chess wins Grand Prix at Cannes. Just works you know?”
“We’ve got amazing clients here at Clemenger Sydney and we want to do amazing work for them. Luke is an enormous boost to that ambition.”
Chess told CB: “Clems has had a stellar 2010, with a client list I reckon is now Australia’s best. Whatever Paul and Spirko are doing is clearly working. Added to that, the BBDO network is kicking goals worldwide. It’s the right opportunity professionally, and the right time for me personally, to be joining what’s becoming a formidable creative offering across all disciplines. Bring it on!”
33 Comments
Congratulations Luke,
Clemenger BBDO are indeed very lucky.
He’s grinning like a chessier cat!
Well done Luke.
And I look forward to seeing your stripy shirts around st. Leonards.
The CDs have put their fingers on The Chesticle’s many talents, but in particular his ‘talent in unquestionable’, which I must say was the one thing I noticed when I worked with him.
Congrats, back in a real agency!
Good on ya fella. Congrats. x
Top bloke. but could there be too many chefs?
@2:00 PM
His shirts ain’t stripy – they’re check mate.
Is Lavender that bad, 2.59?
Although Luke has got out pretty quickly.
From Lavender pawn to Clemenger king. Good move.
Chessboard?
@2.59 Lavender isn’t that bad. It’s rotten.
2:00 PM and 4:27 PM = GOLD.
I’ve had some dealings with Luke even though I never worked for him or with him and he’s always struck me as a great guy – talented, smart and a nice human being with integrity – the opposite of Lavender and its management team. Good thing you are out of there and joining a real agencuy
Clemenger a “real” agency. Wow….
Dear 5:10, it’s even worse than what 5:39 suggests, not that the flounder cares…he’s made his millions pretending he knows good creative when he sees it.
the Flounder?
Chessticles, congrats!
Congrats Luke and congrats Mike & Paul.
Chesticle is a great bloke with a heap of talent.
Watch him go.
Clem’s will win big time from this.
-bep
Great talent, great bloke, great move. Have fun mate.
Not a great hire for Lavender
I don’t know, 10:37. $20 mil in new business while he was there?
From what I hear he was a good hire, but treated badly.
From working at Lavender I can genuinely say it really is that bad a place to work..
@ 10:37
Is that you Will?
@5.25AM: Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-aaaaaate!
Bet you won’t miss stone and aubergine HA HA!
CDs and Lavender are like Keyboard players and the Grateful Dead
WHAT DOES OLD MAN ADVERTISING DRIFTER HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS? COME ON OMAD SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS…
I don’t like the headline.
Lucky escape luke…..got out before the wheels strart falling off lavendar, I bet Westpac will repitch in the next few months. Well done luke, Im sure you will do great things at Clem’s.
Does ADNEWS or anyone have an award for most un-liked agency of the decade?
Legendary bloke in a legendary posting. Power to ya mate.
I don’t think Luke will miss the “bureau, mail house” culture that is so nurtured and respected there. BRRRRR!