PALACE SIGNS STAR PLANNER
The Campaign Palace Sydney has signed award winning planner Hristos Varouhas as its new National Planning Director.
The strategic brain behind the acclaimed Telstra ‘Rabbits’ campaign, Varouhas joins after a four-year stint at BWM Sydney where he was responsible for repositioning and re-branding the agency and integrating the planning creative and digital teams. His work across GIO, Virgin Money, Alfa Romeo and Sanitarium’s So Good and Energize, has contributed to a stellar award haul that has included the APG Grand Prix and the Gold Asia Pacific EFFIE.
Prior to joining BWM, Varouhas worked as an independent planning consultant for DDB in Sydney and London, BBDO Wellington and McCann Worldgroup.
Meanwhile, BWM has hired DDB Los Angeles senior planner Tamer Kattan – ex TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, Y&R Brands in the US and Leo Burnett Dubai – to replace Varouhas.
Varouhas said it didn’t require any explanation or hard sell to convince him to join the Palace, an “iconic agency brand I’ve always wanted to work for: “The Palace has a reputation for strong creative work founded on sound strategic thinking, so when the opportunity to team up with Jacques and Paul arose, it was too good to refuse.
“Working with Rob, Paul and Jamie has been a wonderful experience but this move provides a whole new challenge.”
Campaign Palace CEO Jacques Burger said the signing of Varouhas reinforced the agency’s longstanding commitment to strategic thinking: “The Palace was one of the first agencies in Australia to recognize the value of planning and its contribution to outstanding creative work. Over the years we’ve had some of the best strategic thinkers in the industry as part of our team. Hristos is a significant hire and will be a great asset to our clients and our business.”
Varouhas will come on board in January. He replaces Mark Sareff, who after seven years has decided to revive his planning consultancy, Prophecy.
Says Burger: “Mark has been a loyal and respected member of the Palace team and has added great value to our clients and the planning department here. We wish him all the best.”
21 Comments
I don’t know Hristos or Tamer, but I know Mark Sareff and think he is incredible. Good luck all.
What’s that?
Did you hear it?
I think it’s the anti-planner/they’re all useless stampede heading for this post.
Run!!!
You wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of being a planner these days if you had a mundane name like John Smith.
Onya H! Well done and best of luck!
good luck, you are a great guy with talent, hope the palace uses you wisely and vice versa.
On ya cuzzie bro. You love it eh?
Love you long time H…
Good luck.
You’ll be missed.
good on your H. Palace will be an interesting place next year
The Palace may be signing a ‘star’ planner (I don’t know him) but they are certainly losing one of the smartest, most persuasive and interesting minds this industry has. Not to mention one of the most decent guys you will ever meet.
Good luck in the new gig Hristos!
Sean Boyle
Like no-one I’ve seen, definitely one to watch… congratulations well deserved
Interesting place next year? Really? Why?
Steve
I heard the creatives came up with the rabbits strategy.
I think those people who have worked with Mark will agree that he is far more to the campaign palace than a loyal and respected member adding value.
7:57am
So what’s Mark responsible for? Directly.
What is it with Hristo and the cross?
Well done mate
I don’t think the account management or creatives who worked on ‘Rabbits’ would agree with H. taking any of the credit, never mind all of it.
1.39 – and you would know this how? identify yourself and give yourself a red card and a suspension from cyberspace
look, we all know that every succes and failure in an agency has many parents and part of the trick is that a suit, a planner, a client as well as a creative can hopefully look back and think or claim that the ad wouldn’t have happened without them and..almost always, they’re all correct.
Most people though, overestimate their own role and underestimate everybdy else’s.
There are planners and then there are back-rationalisers
The truth is, there’s more of the latter.
The creative team was definitely Onur and Matt.
The CD was definitely Rob Belgiovane.
No other creatives were involved…
The head planner was definitely Jamie Mackay…Hristos worked with Jamie and helped write the case.
All I’ll say is I’ve read some truth stretching on this blog – all fair enough in the scheme of things, given the industry.
There were many great creative brains involved in the creation of this campaign (and I’m pretty sure not all of them still ply their trade at Mountain St). Those involved gave everything to produce the work, because they had passion and belief. They deserve better.
Hristos always seemed like a lovely bloke and I suspect he didn’t write the media release.