Icon Agency appoints Kenneth E. Parris III and Alex Wadelton as Creative Directors
Icon Agency (ICON) has announced the appointment of Kenneth E. Parris III and Alex Wadelton to Creative Directors, further strengthening the agency’s national creative leadership and integrated offering.
The duo have already been working together for some time across brands including Meta, The Athlete’s Foot, the Museum of Australian Democracy, as well as a wide range of governmental projects addressing community and societal issues. And this reflects ICON’s commitment to delivering bold, insight-led ideas across integrated campaigns.
Parris III and Wadelton bring extensive experience across major brands and creative disciplines, and will continue to play a central role in shaping the agency’s creative direction and output. Both bring a wealth of experience across award-winning campaigns and offer distinct creative perspectives that will further elevate ICON’s work
“These appointments mark an exciting step for ICON as an interdisciplinary agency, combining bold creative, communications, and strategy under one roof. Ken and Alex embody this ambition, blending artistry, innovation and cultural insight to help clients make a real impact,” says Georgina Rees, Executive Director of Brand, Creative and Communications at ICON.
Says Parris III: “The entire ICON team is unique and driven, and I believe we’re building something extraordinary together. The way Alex distils complexity and creative objectives into deeply human ideas reflects his intellect, sense of humour, and generosity. His dedication to making what matters, while not taking ourselves too seriously, inspires me every day. And with George at the helm, I’m excited to help shape creative possibilities that open opportunities for our clients.”
Adds Wadelton: “I’m really excited to work with Ken. He’s not only an amazing bloke, and an incredible art director, he helped pull me through the life-threatening injuries sustained during our photo shoot. George and the team are building something special, and I’m pumped to be a part of it. No bull.”
Parris III brings over two decades of experience in brand building, visual design, and fine art. His career includes roles as Creative Director at DDB New York, where he worked with Hasbro and Topps Candy, and has worked with a variety of Australian agencies working on creative campaigns for Subaru, Qantas, Visa, ANZ, and the Doritos/ReachOut partnership. His accolades include awards from the American Advertising Federation, and twice being selected for the Bombay Sapphire & Russell Simmons Artisan Series. His fine art has also been exhibited in galleries across the United States and featured in press including The New York Times. He’s taught at Miami Ad School and guest lectured at 92nd Street Y (NYC), The One Club, and Bard College.
Wadelton is one of Australia’s most prolific creatives, with over 100 international awards under his belt, including Cannes Gold, AdFest Grande Lotus (Grand Prix), and London International Gold. Renowned for using ideas to drive social change, he has helped raise nearly $5 million for causes including youth homelessness, epilepsy, cancer, and anaphylaxis, and has written two best-selling books on creativity. His advertising career spans the launch of the Big Bash League, a global campaign for Wrigley’s across 70 markets, and impactful government campaigns tackling road safety, sustainability, and responsible gambling.