Phil Shearer finds Affinity creative director gig – joined by ex Saatchi’s AD Shannon Sutherland

Award-winning copywriter, Phil Shearer, best known for his Jim Beam ‘Call 1900-9’ campaign that won the Cannes Direct Lions Grand Prix for Y&R Sydney in 2003, has been appointed creative director at Affinity, Sydney. He will be joined by ex Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney art director Shannon Sutherland – who leaves Saatchi’s after eight years – during which time the agency won CB Agency of he Year three times.

Shearer’s last permanent gig was at the now defunct The One Centre, Sydney which folded in April this year as a result of the GFC – CB broke the story.

At The One Centre Shearer worked across advertising, events, experiential and brand design. He put together an art exhibition for Audi TT (done with Universal Everything out of UK) and created and co-directed the Drambuie Bogan viral that was accepted into D&AD last year.

“With Shan and Phil we’ve now got the creative credentials to pitch against anyone,” says Affinity managing director Luke Brown. “I’m really looking forward to the work we’ll be doing in the coming months.”

In other appointments, Fiona Berry joins Affinity as senior account director. Berry has worked across advertising and design at agencies including Hulsbosch and Group Momentum. She hails from the UK where she worked client side for PepsiCo before joining O&M and Leagas Delaney.