Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s James McGrath steps into new role as Clemenger Group’s creative director at-large
Clemenger Group has today announced that Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s Creative Chairman, James McGrath, will be stepping into a new role as the Group’s creative director at-large.
The move will see McGrath step down from his current role, and take on the newly formed position in a part-time capacity, supporting and mentoring the Group’s creative leadership across Australia and New Zealand.
In the new role, McGrath will chair a newly formed Creative Board which will include the Group’s chief creative officers and executive creative directors. It will be responsible for developing the Group’s creative product, and embarking on initiatives that enhance its creative product and continue furthering the Group’s commitment to creativity.
Says McGrath: “With thanks to the deep inter-generational Creative culture of Clemenger, I have never underestimated the power of Creativity to solve the greatest of problems and the inspired individuals whose orbit we have the good fortune to be in. We all have much to look forward to.”
McGrath’s approach to creative partnership and leadership during his tenure at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne saw the agency establish itself as a global creative powerhouse, creating culture defining work including Four ‘N’ Twenty’s Magic Salad Plate, NAB’s Break Up, Carlton Draught’s Slow Mo, TAC’s Meet Graham, SNICKERS’ Hungerithm,and airbnb’s Until we all Belong.
That commitment to brilliant, effective creativity led the agency to being recognised locally and abroad, with key achievements including multiple Agency of the Decade awards, a coveted D&AD Black Pencil and the agency being named Cannes Lions Agency of the Year.
Says Robert Morgan, executive chairman, Clemenger Group: “James is undoubtedly one of the all-time great creative leaders, respected by his peers locally and abroad. He’s been a stalwart of one of Australia’s most brilliant creative companies for over 14 years, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s chosen to continue his journey with us. Our creative product and our creative leaders will be all the better for it.”
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s joint executive creative directors, Jim Curtis, Rich Williams and Ryan Fitzgerald will continue leading the agency’s creative department.
McGrath’s new role takes effect as of October 1.
26 Comments
Well done James on an outstanding innings.
Good luck James. Very few people in Australian advertising have achieved what you have for one year, let alone 14 years. You deserve everything good that comes your way.
I never thought the nab casualty would be James. But there it is. And that move has made Clemenger Melbourne all the weaker for it. What a shame. James doesn’t deserve that after all he has put in.
James is a remarkable operator in any universe he might happen to be in. He has truly been instrumental in making Clemenger (Melbourne in particular) the force we have come to know and it’s been that way over a very long period of time. Testimony to that is not just the level of the work, year in and year out, it’s also the many amazing creative people that have come through that agency and the genuine strength of those who are there now. I would hope the new role should enable a truer cross-pollination of the creative power of that place across the region, something that perhaps was not as possible before. James appeared to run the melbourne office with this inimitable omnipresence and command that really has not been rivalled, and above all of that, he has made our entire industry simply worth more than it might otherwise be.
Wow, didn’t think it would be James.
Our council brochures are about to get some serious art direction!
Guess part time is easier than paying out all those shares. And a kind of dignified way to step aside. Classy.
James has set the benchmark in our industry. For the Clemenger Group. For every other agency in Australia. And even around the world.
There are few at his level who have held such long tenures at the top of their game and without having to jump around from agency to agency or across the world. I am fortunate enough to have worked with James twice in my career. He is one of a kind – with his own unique style. Never raises his voice, but he can deliver a look or a silence that says 1000 words. I still find myself looking at work through James’ eyes. Is it good enough? Can we make it better? How can we get the client comfortable with it? Wonderful news to hear that the broader Clemenger Group will still benefit from his drive and relentless focus on making work that is truly word class.
A true creative leader whose impact on the Australian advertising industry cannot be underestimated.
You’ll be a massive loss to the Melbourne agency but an amazing asset in the new role.
Congratulations and all the best!
This is an exit stage left moment- not a promotion to a bigger role. You don’t say ‘part time’ if it’s good news. Anyway, all the beat Jimmy.
Why PR this stuff?
Also I do hope this was his decision. As eclectic a guy as he is, he always makes the right call. Just sometimes it takes a few years to realise (says a disgruntled ex-clems creative from many years back who can now admit that James was right 99.9% of the time in hindsight)
Clemenger did more to unite the disparate parts of the group. Sure, you can see this as a loss for Clems Melbourne – but it’s a win for Sydney, Brisbane and New Zealand.
Agreed. As much of a legacy as James will leave behind it’s DEFINITELY time for the new guys to make their mark.
He had his time in the sun. And what a bright sun it was. And what a long time it shone. Time for new blood to carry on his legacy. Yes, it’s time.
Just got to hope the new guys have the same intuition and ability. Huge shoes to fill and no evidence they are up to it so far. A big 12 months for Clems Melbourne
Does this mean Wolfy is returning?
“Huge shoes to fill and no evidence they are up to it so far.”
You know these guys were ECD’s are Droga New York right?
An innings comes to an end.
In this instance a great innings leading some of the best creative output in the world.
Congratulations on playing the gam so well and inspiring so many.
That’s a thouroghly pessimistic point of view. It might not be the same ‘intuition and ability’, but it will be theirs. You don’t fill ‘huge shoes’ unless you step into them. And that ‘no evidence’ remark is nasty, unfair and inaccurate. All good things must come to an end and James run was exceptionally good. But Clemenger was great before James, became greater under his leadership and it would probably remain as great as ever after he steps aside. Clemenger is a great brand, and those kind of brands will outlive us all.
I worked for James for years and learned more about leadership from him than any other boss I’ve ever had. It was a masterclass in restraint, the need for decisiveness and the art of keeping people guessing. Thank you James, and best of luck in the new role.
Great opportunity for long overdue freshen up at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.
Probably a good time to leave advertising anyway. Wouldn’t be surprised if we see him take a CCO role at Tesla or something. God speed either way, he’s a class act.
Gracefully done. What an amazing legacy! Pleased our regular catch-ups will remain.
And why on earth will he do that? He’s been an ECD like for 30 years, extremely well paid and over 60! He deserves to enjoy the fruit of his hard labours and his talent, sit on a board or two and enjoy his new found freedom away from the cut-throat corporate world madness! I certainly hope he does.
James was and remains one of the best in the world at discerning a human insight and expressing it creatively through campaign mechanisms. He did his job. Unfortunately he was not matched (or did not allow himself to be matched) with a progressive leader to drive performance, data, or increasingly important technologies that would have seen he and Clemenger remain essential to clients.
James is not over 60, he’s comfortably under it. Good luck, James. Well done on past, present and no doubt future.