Stu Turner returns to Australia from VML Cape Town to take up ECD role at The Royals Melbourne

The Royals are continuing the expansion of its creative leadership team with the appointment of award-winning creative Stu Turner as executive creative director.

Internationally renowned, Turner has won more than 100 local and international awards with Gold or higher at Cannes, D&AD, Clios, Spiked, Webby Awards, Effies and AWARD.

Previously ECD at Havas Sydney, he helped create and lead well-renowned campaigns such as The Riderless Bike, The Bottom 100 and The Palau Pledge, with his work on the Australian Defence Force account contributing to winning the Grand Effie in 2018.

Turner is returning to Australia after a stint as ECD at VML in his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa. He was previously group ECD at DDB Melbourne.

Based in Melbourne, Turner’s appointment appointment come after a strong 12 months of new business wins for The Royals, including Athena Home Loans, Northern Territory Government, Spotify, Australian Super, Bakers Delight, Nearmap and Danone.

Says Nick Cummins, creative partner, The Royals: “It’s an exciting time for The Royals as we continue to invest in first-class talent to support the needs and ambitions of our growing client base. Stu is a natural leader who is passionate about ideas that are both creative and effective – exactly what today’s marketing challenges require. I believe our clients will love working with him, because he’ll bring great creativity, intelligence and passion to bear on their business.”

Says Turner: “I am excited to return to Melbourne and especially The Royals, as I believe independent agencies have more fun and can operate in nimble ways that big networks often struggle with. Plus, The Royals are a great bunch of people with a distinctive agency culture, who want to make world-famous work. On a more personal note, I am thrilled to be settling back in Australia and raising my boys in this wonderful country.”