Joy snares former Ogilvy Australia chief creative officer Steve Back for creative partner role
Former Ogilvy Australia chief creative officer Steve Back – who departed the agency back in July last year – has joined Joy – which has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland – as creative partner.
Back (left) replaces Christy Peacock, who will depart the agency at the end of February to take a break before considering several options in the pipeline.
Peacock (below) told CB that the parting is extremely amicable and wished Back – who he’s working with over the next few weeks – all the best in his new role.
Back joined Ogilvy Australia in the newly-created national role in February 2013 from Ogilvy & Mather Singapore where he also held the position of chief creative officer.
Also joining Joy as strategy partner is Nicole Milward, the former chief strategy officer at ZenithOptimedia.
Says Joy chief Graeme Wills: “Nicole will join ‘our family’ in a few weeks. Nicole is acknowledged as a leader in brand and connection strategy. She is a thought leader in connecting to ‘communities’, and has lead industry seminars on the new world of connections. Nicole has participated in global seminars, headed up global pitches and introduced mentor/training programs. We are thrilled that someone of Nicole’s pedigree and experience has agreed to join us.
“Steve Back is again an acknowledged leader in the industry. He has creatively led some of the biggest agencies in our region achieving ‘Creative Agency of the Year’ status in each. Steve has won numerous international creative awards in both NZ and Australia, with major clients. Steve is passionate about the role of creative in the new world, and will bring an energy and freshness to our creative product. Steve will announce some new creative hires in the next few weeks.
“Our Senior Team is now complete, who, together with Simon Ludowyke (who joined 12 months ago from BBH New York) will ensure that fresh, interesting thinking is a priority on your business.”
42 Comments
Let me put this on the table for discussion: Is this bloke actually any good? At the rate he moves, it looks to the casual observer like he’s always dodging an impending bullet.
That’s going to be interesting…..
Well done Backy. You’re back.
Nice one Steve….
Love it when agencies describe themselves as a ‘family.’
Just like the Sopranos.
Kwaaaaaaaaaa
When I think of Steve Back I think of joy. Good luck mate.
xx
Forgot the word “dysfunctional” in front of it.
Well done, Backy!
When did Ogilvy Australia or Saatchis win agency of the year with him at the helm?
Snared from being out of work…isn’t that just ‘getting a job’?
Now this should be fun to watch…
So what happened to Christy?
Steve Back is no different to every other creative, CD and ECD in the industry. We hear these PR stories time and time again. How they were ‘snared’ and how they will ‘bring and energy and freshness to the creative product’.
At the end of the day, people just chase the salaries and stick out as long as they can – until the numbers men decide their time is up.
It’s a corporate circus and everyone is part of the performance.
@the pig farmer Kwaaaa Kwaaaaaaaaaaa
Steve, if this doesn’t work out just get out of the industry. Trust me, you’ll be so much happier. You’ll be truly free.
I’m on a break, so Snared is covering for me.
Snared from a very nice holiday break?
Snared from being in my pyjamas all day
Is ‘snared’ better than ‘lured’?
@Old CD Guy
Fair question.
He’s won plenty of awards. But has he won any new business?
Good luck Mr Back.
Jeez, I don’t even know the guy but maybe some of the commenters should follow the age old adage that if you can’t say anything nice about someone, shut the f*ck up.
Nice one Backy, you’ll smash it I’m sure.
It’s people like you that will get the world into all sorts of trouble:
silencing freedom of speech;
not questioning claims put out as PR;
and not allowing discourse.
There are plenty of countries that you can move to if you prefer that style of dialogue…
He’s a real change agent too.
Changed the direction of quite a few agencies too.
Too bad it was in the wrong direction.
There seems to be some confusion around whether Backy is good or shit.
I am an actual person who actually worked with Backy. I think he’s great.
Respectfully.
Actual Person Who Actually Worked With Backy.
He’s got lots of endorsements on Linked In so he must be good.
everyone on here who has only bad things to say about backy has obviously never worked or even met him…
great guy, great creative, great leader. what else do you want?
Guess who’s back, back again…
Backy’s back, tell a friend…
Guess who’s back,
Backy’s back,
Guess who’s back,
Backy’s back,
Backy’s back,
Backy’s back…
(over to you)
@haters got to hate; it’s a blog. That means it’s a public forum and it’s pleasing to see quite a number of people challenging the spin. There are parallels with the situation the Abbott government finds itself in. Whether it’s politics or advertising, people are saying ‘Just cut the bullshit, it’s infuriating’. Your handle is so cliched and unoriginal. If you feel compelled to comment on this story, make a contribution via articulate argument. Get out of first gear.
Surely freedom of speech includes the freedom to suggest that other people shut the f*ck up? Just as freedom of speech includes the freedom to ignore that suggestion.
@old CD guy you’re full of shit!!! Let’s see how you’d travel if it was you up front and centre…oh that’s right you’re just another dick on the sidelines sling shit!!!
Lured suggests they were greedy… (not Greidy of course), snared suggests they were happily walking down the track when whoosh! They were snared by a sneaky trapper.
Both work in Adland.
Hey old CD Guy,most of us other old CD guys know who you are.
And your track record.Hmmmm?
I propose a definition of ‘new hire’ terms should be laid out for all perpetuity, under Section a). of Article 2 of Campaign Brief’s rules of engagement charter.
1. Subject was not actively looking; but a recruiter / employer / old friend approached the said subject and offered them a job over either a.) lunch b.) dinner c.) telephone d.) Skype. Said subject must not have engaged straight away, but played a little hard to get until negotiations were raised in the subjects favour.
Words which can be used in this instance include:
Head hunted
Scalped
Poach
Snared
Abducted
Gratuitously fondled
Physically molested
2. Subject was actively looking; and through a recruiter / employer / old friend / blatant self promotion, said subject begged mercilessly to be given a chance and was offered a job because they either a.) threatened to be a burden on society and join the long term unemployed b.) threatened to be a burden on said employer and join the long term unemployed whilst shagging their significant other c.) threatened to commit suicide d.) threatened to release compromising photos of the CEO / CCO / CFD / BFD in a karaoke bar with their pants around their ankles and weird Japanese object(s) inserted into their nostrils.
Words which can be used in this instance include:
Lured
Enticed
Ensnared
Entrapped / Entrapment
Enslaved
Seduced
Seduced by a midget in a gimp mask
All whom wish to pass this motion, say ‘aye’
Good luck mate x
I feel for Joy.
@Back is Back Again! – don’t feel bad for them. The name of the place is completely ironic.
Love you all xx
@ Backy. I would never say “I love you” don’t you know my rep, stop pretending to be me. You probably don’t even have tats you charlatan bastard.