Dave King returns to Australia to join Innocean as ECD; Scott Lambert departs agency after 5 years

CB Exclusive: Innocean Australia has announced that Whybin\TBWA Auckland ECD Dave King is returning to Australia to work in the newly created role of executive creative director.

King is a renowned creative thinker and leader, winning multiple times at Cannes, D&AD and One Show. Most proudly, in 2011, he was awarded the Ervin Wunderman award at Caples in New York.

Prior to his role at Whybin\TBWA Auckland, he was ECD at M&C Saatchi New Zealand and along the way has held other senior CD roles at M&C Saatchi Sydney and BBDO Proximity.

Says Peter Fitzhardinge, CEO, Innocean: “I am personally thrilled that Dave has chosen to join us. We have enormous potential at INNOCEAN and to have a great 360 integrated thinker such as Dave with will help us deliver outstanding world class campaigns deserving of the brands that Hyundai and Kia are. I couldn’t be happier. My global CEO, Kun Hee Ahn and Donald Shin, head of global development have both been huge supporters in helping me attract world class talent such as Dave to our office. It signals a new ambition for us.”

Says King: “When I heard about this opportunity to work with Pete again, I was immediately interested. His passion to make Innocean Worldwide Sydney a world class agency has been echoed to me by Kun Hee Ahn, Donald Shin and Bob Isherwood. I’m really thrilled to finally get to work with Bob, who is one of the world’s great creative leaders and a really good bloke. To do so on such fantastic brands as Hyundai and Kia makes it even more exciting.”

Says Kun Hee Ahn, Innocean Worldwide global CEO: “I am thrilled to have Dave King on-board at Innocean Australia as ECD. He will inspire all creative output for one of our most promising shops within the Innocean network and he is expected to promptly bring positive energy to both of our key clients in Hyundai and Kia.”

Says Bob Isherwood, creative advisor, Innocean Worldwide, who was involved in the selection of King: “Dave King is an experienced creative director with a globally acclaimed portfolio that bridges the traditional and new media. He and Fitzy will make an awesome team, and a gear shift in the 360 degree thinking we bring to our clients.”

As a result of King’s appointment, current CD Scott Lambert will be leaving Innocean.

Says Fitzhardinge: “I’d like to thank Scott whole heartedly for his time and contribution here at Innocean. Scott has given five years of his life to putting Innocean on the map and his contribution cannot be underestimated. Apart from his enormous abilities, he’s a really good guy and I wish him well. He’ll pop up somewhere great, I have no doubt.”

Says Lambert: “I have had five amazing years here at Innocean Australia, working with an exceptionally talented team all of whom I will miss very much. In that time, we have had many highlights. On the CB Hot & Cold chart, we have taken Innocean from a ‘who?’ to a top 15 Agency. Last year the agency was the No.1 Agency on the CB Creative Rankings, our client Kia was the No.1 client, and I found myself as the equal No.1 creative director. And as if to punctuate my last days at Innocean with a shiny exclamation mark, just this week we were awarded a silver at the Clios. It has been a great run and this was achieved with just two clients – two great clients actually in Hyundai and Kia. So all in all, becoming the inaugural CD five years ago was an amazing opportunity for which I will always be grateful.

“I am very proud of what we’ve achieved and I am now looking forward to see where the next chapter of my exciting Advertising journey will take me.”