HERO Australia chief creative officer Ben Coulson set to depart after over three years in the role
HERO’s Ben Coulson will be departing his Australian chief creative officer role after 3.2 years, for a new role to be announced shortly.
Coulson joined the agency in June 2020. During Coulson’s time HERO launched onto the Australian landscape, has twice been named Australia’s top-ranked Independent at the Effies, picked up a series of high-profile national new business wins including Toyota, Topo-Chico for Coke, Centrum, Microsoft, Maybelline New York, and eBay. Along with Gold wins at One Show, Spikes, AWARD and others.
One of Australia’s most respected creative leaders, Coulson was formerly chief creative officer of Clemenger, VMLY&R and George Patterson, where each agency rose to become Agency of the Year on multiple occasions. He has served on global creative boards and chaired juries at all the international award shows. His work has seen him listed in the top ten CCO’s in the world by the Advertising Age, The Gunn Report, the WON report, Cannes and D&AD.
Says Coulson: “It’s been bloody exciting three years building HERO from scratch, with Ben L and the team. I have learned more than I could have imagined about launching and growing an agency, met some brilliant people and made some damn good work. HERO is up and about in 3 cities, it’s growing fast and the work is flowing. A great experience to take with me as I get stuck into the next gig.”
25 Comments
God I hope you are going to coach the Cats next season. Chris Scott is ok, but your CV is stronger.
Worked with Ben twice, and love the way he brings the best out in every agency he leads. Well done again Ben. As usual, I’ll be calling you when you announce the next thing.
Classy as always Ben.
This is an excellent reminder to younger creatives, you don’t need to hate your job to move on. Make sure you keep working outside your comfort zone. Sometimes that means quitting a job you like.
CMO’s now have an average flip rate of 17 months in this market. Anything over three years is a win. Getting a business set up properly should take not a day less.
Well done Benno, another great gig. I think the next one takes you to official ‘Guru’ status.
It’s Rose O’clock at the Rowers!
Probably Doyen status
Ben, you are a genuine pleasure to work with.
You always foster a positive culture and make what is sometimes an unnecessarily stressful job, actually enjoyable. Not surprisingly good work starts flowing.
I made the best work of my career while we worked together and importantly learned the right way to be a CD. Lead by example, don’t ever get stressed, and never forget it’s not a real job, it’s advertising. Thanks for being so generous with your knowledge and talent.
I remember you once told a group of us Juniors not to focus on becoming a CD. You said if we have talent, they will drag you kicking and screaming into the responsibility. And I watched a lot of contemporaries hustle to get there as fast as they could. Often before they had done enough great work themselves. Which leads to ambitious and sometimes self-serving leaders. Everything you are not.
Thanks for a brilliant 3.2 years Ben. So many wins and so much work to be proud of and as always, you’ve been all class all the way. Our office won’t be the same without without Janet rearranging the layout every 3 months!
Coulson for the win every time!
A true gentleman. Love your work, Ben. Can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds.
You have a way with words. A career highlight was the chance to work with you. I can’t wait to see what you do next!
Any agency or client would be lucky to have the double bill of ideas by Coulson and interiors by Janet. Xo
Best dad i ever had
Onya Coulson. Good luck with what’s next.
Ben, excited for you. You are the kind of leader the industry needs. Rare to see someone so good who isn’t a tyrant or egomaniac.
Ben, you’ve always taken the hard jobs. George Patterson, Y&R, Clemenger Sydney were all creative death zones before you transformed them. HERO was probably fun, but please do another big agency next and liberate a big bunch of creative sweat shop workers from mediocrity.
What do you mean George Patts was a creative death zone?! Tell that to Chris Dewey, James McGrath, Ant Keogh, Cuz and Jim …..
Class, Courage, Compassion, Coulson.
Great guy to work with, brings out the best in everyone.
Didn’t read the article. Got lost in the headshot. Ben did what now?
Good luck Ben – thoroughly enjoyed working with you, albeit briefly.
One of the good ones.
When all the comments are positive. Testament to the man, really. Class act, all the best for the future Ben.