DDB New Zealand ECD Andy Fackrell set to take DDB regional creative director role based in Sydney – search is on to find his NZ replacement

CB Exclusive – Andy Fackrell, DDB New Zealand’s Executive Creative Director, is moving into a new role within the DDB Group in Asia Pacific, as Regional Creative Director.

Based in Sydney, the role will see him working  across the region with the country ECDs, supporting as required on pitches, proactive client briefs and idea generation, including some current and future projects with DDB New Zealand.

Says Marty O’Halloran, CEO DDB Australia and New Zealand: “I am delighted that Andy is spreading his talents across more of the DDB network, although sad for New Zealand that he is departing after two very successful years.” Andy has just been named runner up Creative Director (to John Mescall ECD of McCann Melbourne) in the Campaign Asia Pacific Agency Awards in December.

Says Fackrell: “It’s been great working in my home country after a long time overseas. The drive to do world class work is really strong in New Zealand, and that’s what attracted me back in the first place. My new role will be more of the same, but across the region, and is an equally exciting opportunity.”

Fackrell joined DDB in January 2012 after a stellar career in Europe and the US. Renowned for his work on two of the world’s greatest sports brands, adidas and Nike, Fackrell has collected an extraordinary number of awards for his campaigns.  Educated in New Zealand, he spent nine years at 180 Amsterdam and prior to that worked on Nike at Weiden + Kennedy Portland where he won the Cannes Grand Prix for Nike ad ‘Tag’.

At DDB NZ he has been behind a number of winning campaigns including Westpac’s Start Asking/Flatties, YWCA ‘Demand Equal Pay’, Steinlager ‘Moderation’ and SKY’s ‘Come With Us’.

Fackrell moves to Sydney at the end of January 2014. While an international search for an ECD is conducted, Shane Bradnick, who joined DDB 10 months ago from BMF in Sydney where he was Executive Creative Director, will become acting ECD, ably supported by the agency’s existing creative directors.