After 11 years with VML Melbourne Creative Director James Wills announces departure

After 11 years with VML Melbourne, award-winning Creative Director James Wills has announced his departure.

Wills, who announced his departure on LinkedIn wrote: “11 years. Oof. That’s a long time to be at one agency, right? Well, technically I was at four: GPY&R, Y&R, VMLY&R and VML.

“But time flies when you’re in the work, riding the ups and downs, finding a way to create something special every day.”

The announcement follows CD Robyn Bergmann’s departure from the agency last week.

A copywriter by trade, Wills made the leap from Perth to Melbourne, where his work has earned recognition at major award shows around the world.

Prior to VML, Wills spent seven years at The Brand Agency in Perth, joining VML in 2014 where he was later promoted to Creative Director. In his first two years as Creative Director, VML Melbourne was named the #3 hottest creative agency in Australia by Campaign Brief, won the highly competitive Defence Force Recruiting account, and had eight campaigns recognised internationally. In 2023, the agency was crowned #1 Agency of the Year in Australia and APAC by Campaign Brief’s The Work.

Wills’ campaign for Alcohol Think Again was named the most powerful alcohol education ad in the world. He is a member of RMIT University’s Advertising Industry Advisory Council, and was a co-Vice President of the MADC, where he helped relaunch the organisation during Melbourne’s Covid lockdowns. He also taught AWARD School in 2015, where his student took out top spot in Victoria.

Wills said on LinkedIn: “We won awards. Won pitches. (We lost a few, too.) We were ranked #6 APAC agency of the decade at Cannes, Campaign Brief’s #3 Australian agency of the decade, #1 APAC agency in The Work and #1 Australian agency the following year. We were a top 3 agency of the year a couple of times.

“But what I’m most proud of is sticking it out when it wasn’t easy. A few of us dug our heels in. Helped grow the agency to triple its size. Helped our teams make killer work. We walked into the office every day thinking, “How can we take on the world?”

“It was a special place to be.

“But after 11 years, it’s time to find a new challenge. I’ve never been more psyched.

“VML – AKA “George Patts” – thanks for having me.”