Multi-awarded Ben Coulson joins Dentsu Creative as ANZ chief creative officer for Australian + NZ
Campaign Brief can reveal that Dentsu Creative has appointed internationally recognised Creative leader Ben Coulson as its new Chief Creative Officer for Australia and New Zealand
Coulson’s appointment follows last week’s departure of joint CCOs Mandie van der Merwe and Avish Gordhan who were lured to Saatchi & Saatchi Australia after 11 months in the role.
Coulson’s career has spanned roles in North America, UK, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Ranking among Australia’s most celebrated creative leaders of the past decade, Coulson has twice been recognised in the top five CCOs in the world at the Cannes Festival, and in the Top 10 CCOs in the world on The Won Report.
Coulson was formerly Chief Creative Officer of HERO/McCann, Clemenger BBDO, VMLY&R, and George Patterson, where each agency rose to become Agency of the Year on multiple occasions.
He has a wealth of experience across many of the regions most respected brands such as Tourism Australia, Telstra, Qantas, Toyota, Cadbury, Coke, Frucor Suntory, Burger King, Schweppes, Corona, Carlton United Breweries, AFL, Australian Defence Force, Mastercard, Visa, Menulog, Microsoft, eBay, Unilever, GSK, Monash Uni, Melbourne Uni, Wrigley’s, Cottees, Mars, & Vegemite.
Coulson has been recognised with both Cannes & D&AD Agency of the year titles, has three times won ANZ network of the year at Cannes and Spikes, and most awarded agency in APAC at the One Show. Additionally, he’s won multiple Grande Prix, Best of Show and Grande Effies, along with several Agency of the Year titles at Campaign Brief, Adnews, B&T and AWARD.
Says Coulson: “Dentsu have the capability to deliver creativity well beyond traditional methods. They are quietly assembling a squad of very talented people, and the global network is catching fire (2nd in APAC on the CB list last week). All compelling reasons for me to crash this party.”
Says Kirsty Muddle, Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu Creative ANZ : “Ben will accelerate our agenda to make great work; work that demonstrates what dentsu can do for brands and businesses when we harness all of our capability, media, experience, technology, data, and gaming. He has the experience and credentials to get us there.”
Coulson starts with Dentsu Creative in December and will report into Kirsty Muddle.
44 Comments
Dentsu moves to the top of the 2024 pre season trade with that pick!
Great move Ben, plenty of talent over there, just needs the Coulson factor.
Well played Kirsty and team. Dentsu have been a bit of a revolving door lately, but this is a proper coup.
I can see why Dentsu is appealing, but it ain’t easy. Lots of factions and very suit heavy. Good luck.
Congratulations Ben, I knew you’d get there sooner or later🤣👍.
Make money, have fun, win awards.
Great pick Kirsty.
Benno, the G.O.A.T.
I’d say good luck Ben, but you’re well past needing it. You’ll do what you do best, get the best out of people and the good work will start to flow.
Great get guys, watch this space
Congrats Ben, you are the best CD I’ve worked with. You are all about the work and make an environment where everyone can do their best. And have fun doing it. Hope this is a great gig for you.
Kirsty and Coulson, that’s a formidable duo.
I’d back Dentsu over Saatchis now. Great hires, hopefully see some results by June next year
Hope he retains the clients.
Strong line up. Though Dentsu was leading by example when it comes to diversity. Hopefully they keep that going
Coulson & Halter, that’s a formidable duo.
Case solved.
TKT revival- I worked with CSR and Ben on Frucor and Arnott’s. By far the hardest clients and they worked their arses off for them.
Usually we don’t go for Aussie CCO’s, but Ben has done a lot of hard yards in Aotearoa over the years, and a heap of great work, so we’ll let this one slide.
That management team is good spicy. Congrats BC. Xo
Congrats Ben and Dentsu. Assembling the 120 band back together!
There’s been quite a lot of comment on the over use of the word legend here lately. Benno, you are a legend. Undisputed!
Ben is great for sure. But in ANZ Dentsu is still a media company hoping to be a real ad agency though.
That’s a pretty decent record.
+1 @St Leonard. Feels like Greenwich in the glory days with that crew. Stellar lineup of creative chops and some of the nicest in the business, well done Benny.
For all parties.
Not sure I rate the leadership of the agency. But Ben is a smooth operator.
Hey, that’s my agency. Give it back.
They traded up.
Mr possible strikes again!
Well, done. You just keep going and going. You are the M. night shyamalan of advertising Ben!
Very exciting indeed. A legend and gentleman.
Daddy, Daddy Coul. Dentsu are very very lucky! Good luck mate.
Coulson + Halter could be a real powerhouse. All the best
Congratulations Ben and Kirsty. Great move.
Good move Coolso, you Handsom bastard!
When Dentsu come knocking,you answer
How on earth are Dentsu paying for all this influx of very senior talent? Did I miss the press release about the millions of $’s of new business they have won in the last 6 months?
He keeps getting better looking.
Well this is terrific news.
Do people pre-write their self-adulating comments then copy and paste them, or make them up on the fly?
Big news. We thought he was going to head up the Wallabies or M&C.
Absolute Legend and utterly jealous of Kirsty!
Another expensive hire. Just padding out big fat wallets of c-suite. Hopefully he stays longer than 11 months!
Congrats mate, in good company too.
….. this has ‘car crash of epic proportions’ written all over it.
Two salaries being replaced by one.Even if that one salary is a big one,Dentsu are surely better off.