CB Exclusive: VML CD Kieran Moroney poached for SVP, group CD role at McCann Health New York

CB Exclusive – After seven years at VML, creative director Kieran Moroney is departing Australia to join McCann Health New York as SVP, group creative director. Moroney leaves Australia with over 200 gongs from all major international shows, including D&AD, Cannes Lions, One Show, Clios, New York Festivals, London International Awards and WARC Awards for Effectiveness.

His ‘FitChix’ work recently won five Cannes Lions including the only Gold Lion for Australia, along with the Genius 100 Product of the Year at the New York Festivals, as well as 2 Grand LIA’s and 12 Gold statues at the London International Awards – earning Honest Eggs Co. the Global Client Of The Year Award.

His stellar and proven track record includes winning a further seven Cannes Lions across the previous five years, with Gold Lions in both 2018 and 2020. He leaves VML at time when the agency is ranked No. 1 in APAC by Campaign Brief’s The Work, and The Global Agency Of The Year by London International Awards.

Moroney shares with CB: “It’s been a real honour to play my part in driving an agency that consistently competes against the best in the business. I wish Jake and the wider team a tonne of good luck. I’ll always be a fan.’’

Adds Jake Barrow, group executive creative director, VML Sydney & Melbourne: “I couldn’t be happier for Kieran. He came here, made some of the best work in the world and leaves the agency a better place for it. As a creative he deserves all the good fortune in the world. And as a person even more. I wish him and his family nothing but the best in their new adventure.”

Notable awarded work from recent years include ‘Lost in Translation’ for The Royal Australian Navy, ‘Sip Safe’ and ‘A Future Without Change’ for Monash University, ‘The Half Biscuit’ for Legacy / RSA New Zealand and ‘The Airborne Ad’ for Australia Post.

In his time at the agency Moroney also delivered long term platforms such as the new Navy recruitment campaign ‘Live a Story Worth Telling’ and the five-year running behavioural change campaign ‘Victoria’s Big Build’ for the Victorian Government.

Ever committed to developing the next generation of creative talent, he recently served two terms as Victorian Head of AWARD School and helped recognise and promote creative excellence across the Spikes ASIA and AWARD Awards jury rooms.