Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Executive Creative Director Tristan Graham departs agency
Campaign Brief can reveal that Clemenger BBDO Melbourne executive creative director Tristan Graham has departed the agency after nearly two years. The move follows the news that fellow Clemenger BBDO executive creative director Richard Williams is moving to VML, effective early September.
When asked about his departure, Graham responded: “I’m sad to leave Clemenger. I signed on with high hopes and formed a lot of great and enduring relationships, both with our incredible brand partners and the brilliant creative department I was fortunate enough to lead and learn from. But it’s time for a change and I’m very excited for what’s next—update to come shortly.”
Prior to joining Clemenger BBDO, Graham spent seven years at Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco, overseeing work across Comcast NBCUniversal, Propel (Gatorade) and One Medical.
At GS&P, one of his projects, a global holiday campaign developed with Steven Spielberg for Xfinity/Sky (‘A Holiday Reunion’), was labelled “the gift you didn’t know you needed” by TIME, and the “#1 holiday commercial of the year” by Forbes.
Prior to GS&P, Graham worked at Naked Communications and McCann Melbourne.
Graham’s campaigns have been awarded at all major creativity festivals, including Cannes, D&AD, WARC, Webby Awards, Effies and One Show. In 2014, he received the Cannes Effectiveness Grand Prix for his “Guilt Trips” campaign for V/Line trains, and in 2020, he was nominated for 5 Emmy Awards.
This year at Cannes Lions, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s campaigns for Department of Transport & Planning ‘Hi-Vis Humanity’ and Zee Feed ‘Newsjacker’ made the shortlist in the Industry Craft Lions and Media Lions.
Graham’s work at Clemenger was also notable for its effectiveness— his campaigns reduced violence toward frontline transport workers by 11% for the Victorian Government, increased the number of students choosing to study teaching nationally by over 5% for the Australian Government, and increased membership enquiries for HCF health insurance by 40%.
Earlier this year Adrian Flores joined Clemenger BBDO as CCO following the departure of Jim Curtis who moved to New York to take up the role of EVP, global creative director role at McCann.
14 Comments
To lose one may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.
What is happening at Clems over the past couple of years?
They have lost some great people and management seem to be getting wrong at every turn.
Some of us have a gut feel
Too much incredible talent lost lately. RIP Clems
Best of luck, Tristan.
What’s unfolding here is a reality all networks are grappling with. As holding groups face pressure to boost profits amidst declining client billings in a sluggish market, something has to give. In the past, midweights and seniors were the buffer to cut costs, but with that option exhausted, it’s now the leaders—CDs, ECDs, CCOs—who are on the chopping block. I’d be uneasy in a network role right now.
I would also argue networks are not hiring or keeping the right people. There are a lot of experienced CDs who have been ignored over the past couple of years, and they are often the ones who establish brilliant relationships with clients and know how to build brands.
Oh well, let the independents continue to sprout and thrive.
the losses here don’t seem to be driven by management decisions. the staff are choosing to leave
@Observation, in the past, midweights and seniors weren’t called creative directors and ecds.
One of the most exceptional leaders, creatives and humans in our industry. A massive loss for Clems
Mass exodus happening at Clems.
Clems is really lacking
All aboard the archaic agency model. Train departs soon.
Game over.
…And I’m going back a few years to say that.
Ant’s departure started the rot.
It took hold.