Colenso BBDO’s James Hurman heading to planning partner role at Ogilvy Shanghai
Colenso BBDO, Auckland planning director James Hurman is leaving New Zealand to pursue a new role as planning partner at Ogilvy Shanghai.
Says Nick Garrett, Colenso BBDO’s managing director: “It is with a mixture of great sadness and excitement that we say farewell to James. We are sad to be losing a colleague and a friend who has played an instrumental part in the agency’s success.
“However we are excited for James and we know this will be a great adventure for him and his family. I’d like to thank James for his incredible contribution over the past four and a half years and we wish him well for the future.”
Hurman started with Colenso as a senior planner in 2007 and was elevated to planning director in 2008. Over the course of his time at Colenso he has been involved in a range of award-winning campaigns, internationally recognised for their effectiveness and written a book (The Case for Creativity) about the link between creativity and effectiveness.
The Big Won report recently ranked James Hurman in the top two planners in the world, testament to his remarkable track record with Colenso.
“China is perhaps the most exciting market in the world at the moment. I’m thrilled for James, I hope he learns lots and gets back home soon,” says Nick Worthington, Colenso BBDO creative chairman.
Hurman’s contribution to the industry extends beyond Colenso BBDO and he was selected for the inaugural Cannes Creative Effectiveness Lions jury last year (where CB took his pic above) and is Chairman of the New Zealand Effies.
Says Hurman: “I’ve a feeling that whatever I do in future will come to be measured by my time at Colenso. It’s not at all lost on me that I chanced upon a very special thing. Many of us here have a lot to happily reminisce about in years to come.”
Hurman will remain at College Hill until the end of February and the agency is currently working through a succession plan.
“While we can’t divulge details of his replacement at this stage, James has built one of the best planning teams in the world around him and we have plenty of talent to call on,” says Garrett.