CB Exclusive: Y&R Australia & NZ CCO Ben Coulson to depart agency; Josh Moore to fill role
CB Exclusive – CB can reveal that Y&R CCO, Ben Coulson will depart the agency at the end of the year, after six years heading up the group in Australia and New Zealand.
Coulson also led GPY&R Melbourne for fou years prior to his promotion as regional CCO and served on the Y&R global board.
Replacing Coulson is Y&R NZ CEO Josh Moore, who has been named the chief creative officer of both GPY&R Australia and Y&R New Zealand. He takes on this role in addition to his role as CEO of Y&R New Zealand..
Says Coulson: “It’s been a good run as CCO of Y&R ANZ. 67 Cannes lions. 21 D&AD pencils. Three times most awarded ANZ network at Cannes and Spikes. This years most awarded at D&AD, Cannes, Andy, One Show and New York festivals. Multiple Grande Prix and Best of Show’s. Agency of the year titles at Campaign Brief, Adnews, B&T, Award and Effies. Top 5 ECD’s in the world at Cannes and currently top 10 CCO’s in the world, won report. All our offices are now up and about creatively, and business is in good shape.
“I’ve worked with some amazing people, made some great stuff and had a lot of laughs. I’m now bloody excited by what’s next.”
Says Tony Granger, chief creative officer, Y&R: “I want to thank Ben, who leaves a legacy here of innovative and outstanding work. I am positive his next chapter will be worthy of his tremendous talent and we wish him well.”
31 Comments
I thought he’d never do it, but that is good to hear. Coulson was bloody brilliant there. The force behind a shit ton of amazing work.So many creatives have graduated from the Coulson academy for great creative and now run agencies all over the market. Best of luck (you don’t need it, but it’s a saying) for the next gig!!
Would the last one at Patts please turn out the lights. Game over without Coulson.
That’s big news, Coulson was the best thing about Y&R, he is one of the very best in the game. Guess even he had enough of uncreative management and WPP.
Well done Benno! You have been amazing for GPY&R and are one of the best creative leaders in the world. I’m happy to hear you are doing something new, you will totally kill it. Can’t wait to hear what it is.
Coulson is world class, can’t wait to see where he is going. Tipping the States.
Sorry, Was meant to tag as Tommy P, so you Ben.
Simply the best I’ve ever worked with.
My time at Patts with Coulson was brilliant. He really lets you use your brains and initiative, and each time you’d share something with him his comments ALWAYS made the work better. Plus, he hates Hawthorn almost as much as me. Good luck in the next gig, I’m sure you’ll smash it Dangerwood style.
Coulson has unearthed more creative talent in this market than anyone. He gets the very best out of people and is happy to share the creative love. One of the very best CD’s I’ve known and a pleasure to work with as a suit. Well done on your amazing achievements at Patts Ben, you are the best.
Coulson has unearthed more creative talent in this market than anyone. He gets the very best out of people and is happy to share the creative love. One of the very best CD’s I’ve known and a pleasure to work with as a suit. Well done on your amazing achievements at Patts Ben, you are the best.
W&K.
He is going to get a new head shot done, that one is 5 years old.
And that’s the problem with advertising now – too much Navy not enough Pirates.
Good luck and thanks for everything, Ben. You were the best damn pirate I ever worked for.
Finally, he can join a boy band.
Go mate!
His creative acumen and leadership truly eclipses the standard of his press shots. What a great dude.
@I Know – but he still looks like that!
What a shame, they replace him because he wasn’t flavour of the month the last couple of years despite a solid record of work in a real market.
WPP have always been run by accountants, the problem is now those accountants realise awards matter.
Good luck Ben, the next Caesar will fall quicker than you.
Great work from a true talent who has helped many along the way.
Not much else to say other than good luck.
Josh Moore – yay!
We’ll miss those 5min per week you put in at the office big balls.
Joking… gonna miss ya
Well said, they didn’t push him out though, he quit months ago, they are trying to say a kiwi will fill his role to make it look Ike smith sailing at Y&R.
Game over for Y&R. What a shame, it was rock’n with Coulson at the helm.
Imagine how Australian clients will love a Kiwi CCO based in Auckland looking after their business. Truth is Josh won’t cross the ditch for anything that’s not an award related, no one believes he will do the day to day at GPY&R. This is just spin to make out Y&R have a plan after Coulson.
Good for you Benno, you are the best in the business, I’ll be calling you when you land at the next gig!
Ben has done a great job, sometimes under difficult circumstances. And he’ll go onto bigger and better things. Yes, he’s helped nurture talent; but more than any other CD in this market? I don’t think. Tom McFarlane still holds that honour.
Fair point 8.52, Coulson has unearthed more creative talent than anyone in this market, in this century.
Ben did a great job, but his century, or last century, still Tom McFarlane.
I wish Josh all the luck. He is going to need it. Not much left at Patts. An end of an era. All the best Coulson.
Congratulations Ben on everything you have achieved at and for GPY&R. Look forward to your next success.
GPYR.. the new Big Red. Expect plenty of pedestrian work with retail clients.