CB Exclusive: Havas Worldwide Australia lures ex-ECD Rowan Dean back to resurrect agency
CB Exclusive – Havas Worldwide Australia has lured one of Australia’s most dynamic and awarded creative directors, Rowan Dean, back to re-take the helm of its Sydney flagship agency as part of the “resurrection” of the agency following the shock departure of former executive creative director Steve Coll last week, who has left to join Droga5.
Coll was a driving force behind the “renaissance” of Havas in Australia after the surprise departure of Dean in 2010, with the agency winning 11 Lions under his guidance. Dean originally joined the agency in 2005 and was a driving force behind the “resurgence” of Euro following the shock departure of Dale Rhodes, who was the driving force behind ‘Bloody Volvo Drivers’. Rhodes joined the agency in 2001 following the unexpected departure of Matt Cummings, a driving force behind the “digital re-birth” of the agency.
Says Dean: “I’m excited to be coming back to Havas Sydney at a time when the agency is so highly regarded around the world, and I’m particularly grateful to Steve for having had a minor hand in that. I’m especially looking forward to all the new challenges facing us at Euro, er, I mean Havas. The new team has a tremendous vision for the agency, and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”
Industry tongues were already wagging following Dean’s surprise attendance at the Campaign Brief/LIA creative director’s function last week – pictured above – where he repeatedly denied the rumours of his imminent return to North Sydney.
20 Comments
I’ve seen this one before…
Welcome back Rowan, we missed you.
Good to see you back Rowan.
“I’m excited to be coming back to Havas Sydney at a time when the agency is so highly regarded around the world, and I’m particularly grateful to Steve for having had a minor hand in that.”
Minor???
Don’t work there, though I did a looong time ago, but what did Rowan do that Steve didn’t?
Looking in it seems like Steve Coll turned that place around, not RD???
Rowan, please don’t tell me you won’t be deputy editor at The Spectator any more? Hope you are keeping that role as well as your great column in the AFR.
‘Minor hand’!
There is nothing “minor” about what Steve Coll has done at that agency. An agency that he turned around… oh hang on, look at the date, April Fools, nice one! almost had me.
Very funny Lynchy. Best April Fools Day prank for a while.
Rowan is welcome back at Havas anytime!
Cheers
Ant
good one
‘digital re-birth’ ewww
Happy first of April; if you enjoyed the prank you will be reassured to know I am still writing at the Fin and the Spectator. My best wishes to Ant and Havas and congrats to Steve on the new gig.
It’s almost midday…
Ha ha ha ha -funniest AF joke I’ve seen all day!! You’re an idiot Mr Lynch!!
Renaissance – resurgence – driving force – re birth.
Wow.
what about me? Am I going back too?
Very funny Mr L.
“I’m particularly grateful to Steve for having had a minor hand in that”
Hilarious.
Great April Fools joke.
There’s a downside to using your real name on the blog.
So whilst I’d love to say I was part of the setup, I wasn’t.
Well done Lynchy and Rowan.
I was got.
Yes Steve you WERE got.
Where’s the soap?
“I’m excited to be coming back to Havas Sydney at a time when the agency is so highly regarded around the world, and I’m particularly grateful to Steve for having had a minor hand in that.”
Minor???
Don’t work there, though I did a looong time ago, but what did Rowan do that Steve didn’t?
Looking in it seems like Steve Coll turned that place around, not RD???