After almost a decade in New York Aussie expat John Mescall set to depart McCann Worldgroup

Aussie expat John Mescall, the New York based global executive creative director at McCann Worldgroup and president of the McCann global Creative Leadership Council, is set to depart the agency in September.

In a Facebook post Mescall says: “So it’s the end of something that was very special. I can’t help but think about all the great people I was lucky enough to work with on this ride. And now, on to whatever’s next.”

Mescall has been in the role since transferring from McCann Melbourne in 2014.

Under Mescall’s leadership, McCann Australia quickly became one of Australia’s most dynamic and most awarded agencies, taking out the 2013 Campaign Brief Agency of the Year title.

The agency was most awarded in the world in 2013 with more than 200 trophies across 15 globally recognised campaigns, including Dumb Ways To Die for Metro Trains, Impossible Orchestra for the federal government, Guilt Trips for V/Line and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s 100-Day Challenge.

Prior to joining McCann, Mescall was partner and executive creative director of SMART (which was acquired by McCann Worldgroup in 2011), one of the most successful and progressive independent agencies in Australia.

A writer and creative director, Mescall has won more than 30 Cannes Lions, including 5 Grand Prix for Metro Trains “Dumb Ways to Die” and in 2014 a Grand Prix for Creative Effectiveness for V/Line. His other awards include: Black and Yellow Pencils at D&AD, Best of Show at The One Show, and multiple Clio and Webby awards. Mescall’s work has also been featured in TED’s “Ads Worth Spreading” initiative, the only Australian work to ever be selected.