Independent creative agency Emotive underlines growth with seven new appointments

Independent creative agency Emotive has announced seven new hires across account management, production and creative amplification.

The announcement comes on the back of a strong 2021, which saw the agency welcome six new clients on top of significant organic growth.

Molly Rugg and Andrea Dalton Doran join as business directors. Rugg joins Emotive from her most recent role in marketing and partnerships with Australian fashion label CAMILLA, having previously worked internationally and locally across both creative agency and brand side roles with Nike, Netflix, Wieden+Kennedy Portland, Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, and Special Australia. Dalton Doran joins from CHEP, where she was leading the NRMA Insurance account having made the move from Boys + Girls in Ireland where she led the team that won a 2021 Gold Cannes Lion for Three Mobiles Connected Island campaign in Creative Strategy.

Says Doran: “Emotive has a pure authenticity at its core, which is so refreshing to be around. They also have a great client base, a clear vision for the future and a ton of momentum, so I’m looking forward to making great work, with even better people (by the beach!).”

Says Rugg: “What drew me in is the breadth of creative capabilities and curation of experienced talent. I love uncovering brand challenges and finding creative solutions and Emotive is set up to do just that.”

They are joined by Kate Forrester, who starts as account manager having made the switch from working in entertainment law and artist management in both Australia and the United States.

Emotive’s integrated production offering is strengthened with the arrival of Aja Sandoval as senior producer and Candice Dobbie as senior brand experience producer. Sandoval is returning to Australia after 4.5 years in the US, most recently at DDB NY, while Dobbie has twenty years production experience at agencies across London and Sydney. Alongside Sandoval and Dobbie, editor Claudia Sutiono is taking up residence in one of the in-house editing suites at Emotive’s new Coogee Beach headquarters. Sutiono has a wealth of experience, from cutting short-form content, long-form documentaries, music videos, fashion editorial and a range of ads.

Says Hayley Ritz-Pelling, head of production, Emotive: “We’re thrilled to welcome Aja, Candice and Claudia as we continue to enhance the Emotive production offering, across both our traditional agency production model and independent end-to-end film services.”

Rounding out the latest wave of new hires is creative amplification director, Agnes Gudz. Gudz’s arrival further strengthens the agency’s ability to drive fame for clients beyond traditional paid channels. Gudz joins from Apparent, having previously worked in media agencies in the UK and Sydney.

Says Simon Joyce, founder and CEO, Emotive: “Welcoming seven new hires, all who bring such amazing talent and passion to the agency, is an incredible feeling. With our new office now open in Coogee, a growing team with more announcements to come and a burning ambition to deliver better and better work, we couldn’t be more excited for the year ahead.”