CB Exclusive: DDB Sydney bolsters creative department with Steve Jackson joining in CD role

CB Exclusive: DDB Sydney has hired awarded creative director, Steve Jackson to a creative director role at the agency.

Jackson’s appointment bolsters the formidable creative talent at DDB Group’s Sydney office. Throughout his career, he has picked-up awards at all the major local and international shows, including D&AD, Cannes and One Show and One Show Entertainment. Jackson (above centre) will partner with Cameron Hoelter (above left) as a creative director primarily on the McDonald’s account.

Says Dylan Harrison (above right), executive creative director, DDB Sydney: “I’ve been wanting to work with Steve ever since I arrived back in Australia almost three years ago. He’s simply outstanding within the industry. I’m chuffed he’s joining us and thrilled to be welcoming such an awarded creative into the DDB family.

“Steve has continually delivered award-winning, world class creative work for a broad range of clients including Toyota, the United Nations, Tourism Victoria and Nike, some of my favourite work out of Australia in recent years. His secret is always blending populist appeal and intelligent wit. He’ll be a great fit at DDB, a true leader and inspiration to the department.”

Says Jackson: “I’ve long been an admirer of the DDB network, both regionally and internationally. Sydney has produced some standout pieces over the years but it has some real creative momentum right now, which has a lot to do with Dylan’s infectious passion for the place and its great client list. Take McDonald’s – Dylan, Cam and the team, have been pushing the envelope with non-traditional campaigns like ‘Macca’s Australia Day’ and ‘Track My Macca’s’. I look forward to working with everyone here and helping to build on that momentum.”

Says Harrison: “Steve will be a great partner to Cam Hoelter, who has been kicking big goals ever since he arrived 2 years ago. They’re both the epitome of our hiring policy of being both talented and nice. The two are genuine class acts and will take both the McDonald’s account and wider DDB business to new creative heights.”

Co-author of some of Australia’s most memorable campaigns, Jackson worked at Cape Town’s Jupiter Drawing Room before landing in Australia at Publicis Mojo in Melbourne. He then moved to Sydney where he was promoted to creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi, before heading down the road to Droga5, which he departed in July last year.

He’s credited on three of Campaign Brief’s top 30 Australian commercials of the decade including Toyota’s ‘Border Security’, Nike’s ‘Reincarnate Now Squirrel’, and Tourism Victoria’s ‘Run Rabbit Run’ from Publicis Mojo, where he also kicked off Toyota’s ‘AFL Legendary Moments’. The Toyota Border Security campaign alone received five Gold Lions at Cannes, another three at Spikes and D&AD and is Saatchi’s most awarded campaign ever.