Industry in shock as Whybin founder + chairman Scott Whybin resigns from Whybin\TBWA
Scott Whybin, the chairman, regional creative director and founder of Whybin\TBWA Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland has resigned from the agency. After 21 years leading Whybin\TBWA, Whybin will step back from the executive management of the business in April 2016.
Last year Whybin was inducted into the AdNews Hall of Fame for an exceptional career spanning over 30 years, including being the youngest ever creative director at The Campaign Palace at age twenty-six. Whilst at The Campaign Palace, Whybin wrote five of the Top Ten Australian ads of the last twenty-five years, including Dunlop Tyres and ‘Sic’em Rex for Antz Pantz. Whybin has won every local and global award and accolade that our industry offers.
Four weeks ago, Whybin\TBWA was crowned the 2015 Australian Network of the Year by AdNews.
Says Keith Smith, president international global markets, TBWA: “Scott has helped to nurture and develop a significant number of the most talented and successful people working in the industry today, many of them are still working at Whybin\TBWA.
“Paul Bradbury (left) has been with Whybin\TBWA for over ten years, is the regional chief executive officer across Australia & New Zealand and has full responsibility for the region.
“Kimberlee Wells (right) has been with us for over four years and is the chief executive officer of Whybin\TBWA Melbourne, and Andrew Scott has been with us nine years and is the chief executive officer of Whybin\TBWA Auckland.”
23 Comments
Scott you legend. All the best and has been awesome working with you for the times I have.
Scott’s been a legend to work with creatively.
He built an amazingly creative empire across Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, for 21 years. Now that’s a track record to be proud of.
Good luck in your next chapter Scott.
Shock horror, this industry is in shock.
Congratulations, mate – enjoy.
At The Palace Scott took a great agency and made it even greater. He then created a great big agency of his own; and his name adorns offices throughout Australia, NZ and Asia. Name me another Australian adman who’s achieved that level of success over such a long time. I can’t think of one. Scott’s already done enough to be included in AdNews Hall of Fame. If you believe like I do that past behaviour is a predictor of future behaviour, then he could be the first ever person to be inducted twice!
I loved working for him.
I loved working for an agency that was led by a creative chairman.
I left because of a lot of the same reasons Scott has sighted.
Now they put ‘management’ in control. Of a so called creative company.
And that’s the problem with (most) networks.
A manager – reporting into a manager – who reports into another global manager.
Who is leading the creative direction of the TBWA network? Who gets on a plane to all the offices? Who bangs the creative drum?
Than answer is no one.
It’s a crying shame in my opinion but then again it has been that way for a very long time unfortunately.
The bean counters are now in control.
Congratulations.
To add to that – that is the reason creatives get paid bugger all and rarely get promoted compared to suits, planners and the bean counters.
If creatives knew how much they were worth to an agency, the suits would work for them.
Best of luck Scott. I was fortunate enough to work for you too and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the company you built.
David Droga
Best of lucky Scotty. It was a fun 8 years working with you.
Not just a creative genius, but an outstanding businessman who has remained at the top of this industry for over 30 years.
You’d struggle to meet a kinder, more generous soul.
Many, many people owe their success to Scott.
All the best with whatever next chapter you wish to write, Mr Whybin.
You’re simply the best.
Was always a pleasure working with you Scott a true gentleman, one of a kind.
You will be missed.
LEGEND!
We love you Scott Whybin for everything you stand for and for your loyalty and contribution to our industry. And for some of the best experiences we’ve had.
You are a true force of nature. It’s never dull when you are involved.
He’d hate me saying it, but I always looked up to him. He gave creativity a place in the boardroom.
Thank you Scotty for your integrity, your creativity and your mammoth contribution to the industry. A giant amongst men in an industry that seems to be rapidly forgetting what industry they are really in. You never did.
And thank you for continually having the best parties, dinners, boat rides, chopper trips EVER ……… and keeping the dream alive! Finally you’ll have time for us all to go to a long lunch! Love ya lots. xxx
What a great comment – “If creatives knew what they were worth, the suits would work for them.”
Sounds like something the dark prince would say himself.
Congratulations on 21 years Scott, whatever this next chapter is I hope it rattles the local industry’s cage. Too many money men ruining it for everyone else.
What’s not to respect about Scott. He’s one of the very few creatives that runs the show, without ever losing sight of what drives it. I got a rare insight into his interest and passion for doing things beyond traditional ads when I helped start Integer at Whybins. We won an Emerging Agency title when Scott passionately outlined to the jury the reasons he’d choosen to invest in an emerging discipline. I count myself lucky for having been in the room to hear it. With that in mind, I have no doubt his next move is going to be bloody fascinating to watch.
congratulations on your brilliant career ….. so far.
congratulations on your brilliant career ….. so far.
Thanks Scott for being such a brilliant and fun person to work with – best of luck for what ever you choose to do next, I know it will be just as fantastic. You really are a legend. xx
It was always a huge pleasure and fun to work with Scott – Congratulations Scott on all you have achieved, you truly are a legend! xx
Dear April 8 2016, 12:33pm.
David Droga has created a fantastic business, but we should never forget Scott opened a NZ office in the 1990’s and then a Sydney office and a swag of offices throughout Asia – all of which remain open and operate successfully and profitably.
So, whilst David has every reason to feel enormously proud of his stellar achievements, when it comes to creating an international network, even David would acknowledge that Scott’s record in that regard outdoes him, Michael Ball, Mojo, MDA and anyone else who’s had the courage to trod that path.
Hi Rick,
I’ve just come across your lovely article about Scott Whybin.
Scott is an advertising genius. Of that, there is no doubt.
A nurturing, incredible talent who has done so much to grow the advertising industry in Australia.
And a bloody good and decent boss during my time as a copywriter at The Campaign Palace, Melbourne.
No article can do his career justice as there are so many amazing untold stories, however I am compelled to fact-check one of your statements.
Your article states that Scott wrote the Antz Pantz TV commercial.
To clarify, I wrote the Antz Pantz spot, not Scotty.
Scott was Creative Director. I was copywriter. Sarah Barclay was AD. Iain Mackenzie directed the TV spot. Each individual brought their incredible gifts to the table.
Together, we created a spot which has become part of Australian folklore.
We also laughed together. A lot.
This is to the enormous credit of Scott, who pushed all his team to perform beyond their abilities on a daily basis, making sure to enjoy every moment.
Quite simply, he was a mastermind.
Best Regards, Mara