MediaCom appoints Simon Jarosz as new CD; Shelby Craig sets up specialist division in LA

MediaCom’s specialist content division, MediaCom Beyond Advertising (MBA), has appointed Simon Jarosz (left) from Toast Creative as its new creative director to replace Shelby Craig (right) who will return home to LA to set up a specialist division.

Jarosz, presently NSW AWARD school head, started his career as a graphic designer, and soon rose through the ranks fulfilling roles such as head of interactive design at McCann Worldgroup and digital creative / art director at Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, Three Drunk Monkeys, JWT and VML.

Serving as a key and intrinsic hire for The Content + Connections Agency, the English-born creative brings with him a wealth of experience and an international resumé including award winning work for brands including Toyota, Lion Nathan and Novartis recognised with awards from Cannes, Spikes Asia, AWARD show, and D&AD amongst others.

Within Jarosz’s new remit as creative director, he will work closely with Gemma Hunter, executive Creative director and national head of MBA Australia and Tom Robinson, head of content strategy and distribution, to lead the vision for MediaCom’s content product. Jarosz will be responsible for creative direction and production excellence for all MBA original and partnership content. In alignment with MediaCom’s positioning as The Content + Connections Agency, his focus will be to develop world class content ideas and innovation in content both nationally and globally.

Says Hunter: “Simon is a fantastic hire and exactly what we needed to continue to drive product innovation for MBA in Australia. He understands all aspects of the creative process and is a true digital innovator. I am a massive fan of his style of work and I’m extremely excited to have him join our amazing team.”

Says Jarosz: “This is a huge opportunity for me to become part of a fast growing, very successful team both here in Sydney and globally. I’m very excited to be taking over from Shelby who has done an outstanding job and to be working with Gemma and the team.”

As part of a global MBA expansionCraig, has returned to LA tasked with the start up of MediaCom’s specialist content division, MBA, within the Californian based office. Craig’s responsibilities will include working closely with his North American and global counterparts to establish a local content offering in MediaCom’s Santa Monica office.  During his tenure will be tasked with creating and executing world class content for local and global MediaCom clients and also building great relationships with the creative and production talent in LA.

Says Craig, current partner, creative and content director, LA: “I’m really pumped to be headed back home to California and to remain part of the MediaCom family. The team in the USA are already doing amazing work and I can’t wait to grow that offering on the West Coast. It’s great to be back in LA and working with the awesome entertainment and creative talent out here.”

Says James Morris, global head of MediaCom Beyond Advertising: “We are delighted that we, as an agency, were able to facilitate Shelby’s move back home and to also retain a talent like his within the MediaCom family. He has, without a doubt, contributed an extraordinary amount to the success of MBA Australia since joining the team over four years ago. The Aussie team will miss him sorely, but I am positive Simon will do an excellent job in driving our department forward and will create innovative and world class work for our clients.”

Great work and content continues to be high on the agenda for MBA Australia this year. Crowned BEfest’s 2014 Content Marketing Agency of the Year, the specialist content division has continued its winning streak this year by receiving an array of accolades from global and regional awarding bodies.

Part of a global team of over 600 content strategists, creators and distributors in 42 countries, MBA Australia was one of the first offices to launch outside Europe 5 years ago. It remains the most awarded MBA team globally and is the second biggest MBA department to date ahead of USA, China and Germany.

Jarosz’s tenure with MediaCom is effective immediately.