Matchett to depart Ogilvy Sydney for ECD role at Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore and Malaysia
EXCLUSIVE: Ogilvy Sydney executive creative director Bruce Matchett has been lured back to Asia, to the ECD gig at Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore + Malaysia. His appointment completes a series of creative changes started in November last year.
Matchett replaces Adrian Miller, who resigned from the post a month ago. In November last year Saatchi & Saatchi merged both their Singapore and Malaysian agencies together to create one single operation.
Matchett re-joined Ogilvy in mid 2007 from JWT India, where he had been since 2005, recruited from Ogilvy Sydney.
From Ogilvy’s perspective, the move is part of the ongoing evolution of Ogilvy Sydney’s management, and marks the end of a three-year plan to build and consolidate its creative offering.
“We brought Bruce back from India as part of a concerted effort tobuild Ogilvy Sydney into a leading creative force in the Australianmarket,” says CEO Stuart O’Brien.
“He’s worked hard to helpus to achieve this goal. Now we appreciate that it’s time for him tomove on to his next challenge. We wish him all the very best, andremain great mates. On a personal level, I have particularlyappreciated his total support in the transition and evolution of thisagency over the past few years. He’s been a driving force behindbuilding our creative ranks.”
O’Brien said while they werestill searching for Matchett’s replacement, it was testament to thestrength of Ogilvy Sydney’s management team, and creative capabilitiesthat it will be “business as usual” after his departure.
“Whilewe’ll all miss Bruce, we have an incredibly strong team with broadexpertise, and I have no doubt that we will continue to produceoutstanding creative work that works for our clients while we searchfor a new ECD,” he said.
Ogilvy Sydney has made a raft ofcreative appointments recently including Russell Smyth, a former CD atThe Campaign Palace, and Brian Merrifield, former Saatchi & SaatchiSydney CD of digital. It also recently hired copywriter Trent Christieand art director Chris McMullen – all reported by Campaign Brief.
11 Comments
A massive loss for Ogilvy
I thought he’d be going to China? Good onya Bruce. Adrian.
Wow – talk about a big loss. You can replace the titles in an agency, but it’s much harder to replace the heart and soul. Good luck and well done Bruce, they are very lucky to have you over in Singapore.
“one single operation”, gets the rex mossop of the hour award
So who’s going to take up that role at Ogilvy then? Any suggestions?
Congratulations Bruce! It’s the end of and era… again. All the best in Asia!
5:53 Okay… I suppose I’ll do it. But only because I’m top bloke.
Hopefully they’ll get in someone great and Ogilvy Sydney can start behaving like a real Ogilvy agency – not a Singo agency.
Good luck Bruce. Go show Greeny what it’s all about
When are you off, Bruce? Will I ever see you again? You’re looking sexier than ever.
Am I ever going to see your face again?