Whybin\TBWA\Tequila, Sydney raids M&C Saatchi /Mark for new creative director Gavin McLeod

March 7 2011, 12:04 pm | BY Lynchy | 20 Comments

Gavin Mcleod PR-Medium-web.jpgCB Exclusive – After four years as creative director of M&C Saatchi/Mark, Sydney, Gavin McLeod is joining Whybin\TBWA\Tequila, Sydney as creative director.

 

During his time at M&C Saatchi, McLeod – who was promoted to CD in March 2007 – has grown the specialist direct and digital offering of Mark to over 100 people. It has consistently been the most awarded direct agency in the country, boasting several “agency of the year” accolades as well as being the second most awarded in the world in 2006 and the third most awarded in the world in both 2007 and 2008, according to the WON report.

 

Apart from being awarded at every major award show, McLeod has chaired juries at AWARD, AdFest and ADMA as well as judging at D&AD, The Caples and Cannes.

McLeod joins Whybin’s Sydney in a time of positive momentum for the agency. In the past six months, the agency has changed the creative leadership at the top, hiring Matty Burton and Dave Bowman as joint ECDs. The agency has won five pitches straight, putting on over 120 million in new business. This combined with the recent output of work saw them awarded as AdNews NSW Agency Of The Year.

 

“We have worked with Gav in a previous life and he is the real deal. He’s fiercely creative and he’s also a gentleman. That’s a pretty rare combination these days. We can’t wait to start collaborating on some world class work and growing our business with him,” says Bowman.

 

CB understands McLeod is one of several appointments to be announced in the coming weeks designed to significantly bolster the creative ranks within the TBWA offering in Australia.