TBWA\Sydney shock as chief creative officer Andy Dilallo let go due to economic effects of Covid-19
Campaign Brief can reveal that due to the economic effects of Covid-19, TBWA\Sydney chief creative officer Andy DiLallo, one of the most awarded creatives in Australia, has been let go.
DiLallo sent the following all-staff email today:
Subject: Last Dance
In these challenging times, tough calls are required. Unfortunately that will mean my departure from TBWA.
More positively, we are also on the cusp of putting out some truly brilliant work!! With that in mind and to leave the agency on its strongest possible footing, I will remain for the next few weeks in order to see that work through.
Our days together may be numbered, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make them count.
I look forward to personally saying my goodbyes to you all and hearing how much you’ll miss me.
Sincerely,
ANDY
Ranked by Ad Age as one of their top 3 CCOs worldwide, DiLallo’s work has continuously been held up for its new world thinking. He has won every major creative accolade, including 7 international Grand Prix and 80 Cannes lions.
Among many other career achievements, DiLallo was responsible for the largest mass participation event in history on behalf of his client WWF Earth Hour, the results of which were recognized by the United Nations.
His work for Coca-Cola has been accepted into both the MOMA in New York, as well as the Clio Hall of Fame.
During his time at the creative helm of TBWA, DiLallo has overseen a new business track record the envy of most. Adding such clients to the roaster as Amazon, Optus, Pepsi, CUB, Allianz, Sheridan, Challenger, Intuit QuickBooks, Ferrero, Mycar, Macquarie University, Bras N Thing, and General Pants to name just a few.
Says Paul Bradbury, CEO of TBWA Australia & New Zealand: “I would like to say thanks to Andy for his strong creative leadership over the last three years. Andy is an exceptional creative thinker and has helped us to create a very strong agency with an excellent roster of clients and some strong creative work in the pipe. Andy leaves us as a great mate and we wish him all the very best.”
Prior to joining TBWA in February 2017, DiLallo was the chief creative officer at M&C Saatchi Australia, joining in April 2015 from the CCO role at Leo Burnett Sydney, where he had a hugely success eight year run.
DiLallo oversaw M&C Saatchi Australia’s 15 group companies as the National Chief Creative Officer. In his first year in the role the agency achieved their greatest performance at the Cannes lions taking home 11 total lions including 6 Gold, a coveted Titanium, as well an Innovation Lion. Over the course of his two years in the role, the agency went on to win Agency of the year at the B&T awards, as well as being chosen as the most innovative company in Australia by BRW two years in a row. Other achievements in his time include over thirty new business wins across the group, agency of the year and two grand prix at the Clio awards and runner up for Creativity Asia CCO of the year, a title he has won several times prior.
Previous to that, DiLallo was CCO for Leo Burnett Sydney for eight years, as well as a regional role, responsible for looking after the creative product of Japan for the network. During his time Leo Burnett Sydney was the most awarded agency in Australia five years in a row. They won agency of the year 23 times, and are still the only Leo Burnett agency to have won agency of the year for the network. Major new business wins in his time there include Woolworths, Big W, McDonald’s, E-bay, GIO, as well as being the lead creative agency to defend and retain Samsung on behalf of the Global network. Leo Burnett Sydney was recently ranked #3 Pacific Agency of the Decade at Cannes Lions.
Before Leo Burnett, DiLallo and his then creative partner Jay Benjamin (the latter is now CCO at Hundred Percent in New York) were joint executive creative directors of JWT Sydney (JWT Sydney was the most awarded agency in Asia at Cannes during this time) after joining as deputy CDs in December 2006 from senior positions at Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand. Before their NZ stint, the pair were brought out to Australia by Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney in 2003, hired by then ECD David Nobay, who was their boss at Bozell, New York.
Benjamin and DiLallo played a big role in five Campaign Brief Agency of the Year titles during their five year stint at Saatchi’s both in Sydney and Auckland.
32 Comments
Classy email from Andy
Why is it always the creative people let go in hard times. Given there are so many suits working at this agency it appears very strange. I smell a rat.
Andy would be a costly asset. Worth every penny may I add but still costly.
Advertising is in trouble. If we cut all the knowledge holders it will be future generations that will struggle to bring forth all the years of dedication to quality thought and craft that will dissipate.
Short-termism. It’s a terrible thing.
Best of luck Andy, you’re a legend mate. And a bloody good human.
Management up to their old tricks.
miss you already. x
What about Job Keeper?
There is definitely a pattern at this agency. Maybe they should look at themselves internally.
This is a brutal business.
Big bucks always lead to big falls.
TBWA is no better, or worse than any other holding company agency. The call comes in. The instructions are given. And out they go.
It’s not Andy. It’s not the agency. It’s just the way it is.
Truth be known, Andy’s going has probably meant 4 or 5 others keep theirs.
Good luck Andy.
It’s not you it’s me
Its not a brutal business. It’s the way agencies do things that give the industry a bad name. This is one of those agencies.
It s brutal.
Anyone who earns big bucks ( I’m talking $400k + )
knows their head is always in the chopping block.
The good times are great – big $, Cannes, front of the bus rock ‘n roll lifestyle, constant adoration.
My advice – if you earn big bucks, never forget your agency can and will survive without you, regardless of what you or anyone else thinks.
The Palace didn’t die when Lionel left. Mojo didn’t die when Mo and Jo left. BMF didn’t die when F, then B and M left. Whybins didn’t die when Scott left. They all last.
So, when you get that first big cheque – live on half and save half – because when the axe falls – and it will – you’ll be glad you did.
$400k for Andy?
I think it would be more like 700k plus.
Dear Cash converters,
I’m sure Andy is earning more than $400k.
That’s my point.
The bigger the bucks, the bigger the target.
I’m sure his replacement is great and I wish him well
but ………..what are the odds his appointment has just saved TBWA $250k or more?
As agency revenues have plummeted, salaries are plummeting with them.
We can jump, yell and scream as much as we like – but it won’t stop them plummeting.
For instance, let’s say a very well credentialed ECD left a
big successful creative agency and was looking for another ECD job. After a couple of months it was announced he was joining another big-ish agency as ECD.
Does anyone think the new agency had to pay him/her anything like what his previous agency paid him/her?
Like I said. Start saving your pennies, because chances are your next job will be harder to get and pay you less into the bargain.
Andy is by far the most amazing creative force I’ve ever met – and ever will. He’s not leaving the TBWA ‘pirate ship’ – he’s jumped off the Ruby Princess of agencies. Go bro.
Andy will land somewhere. He’ll also hire the same people. Do the same type of work and all this happens again.
It’s the perfect time to do it. You’ve got the cache and you can afford one of the best talents in the business – yourself,
The clients who read this blog have their suspicions confirmed regularly. Why would they show agencies long term loyalty when this is how we treat ourselves. It’s cool how loose we are but at times it’s embarrassing how we can be.
Okay. We all want to know the answer to one question: did Andy take all the awards with him?
Can I help pack your bags Andy.
Having worked for TBWA for years, it never ceases to amaze me how they rabbit on about Disruption™ & Creativity being the be all and end all of life there, but the first people to ever go are creatives…just look at the senior management of suits at TBWA in Sydney…why oh why is it never one of them to get the chop during tough times? And one of them has the gall to say at they’ll now get their office back. Truth be told, TBWA other than a few stand outs offices, are now like the McCanns of the 90’s…one big, old boy network.
Pretty sure Nitsa didn’t write that
This industry needs to be burned down and rebuilt (without the likes of you)
God, most of you are so miserable and burnt and bitter. This really is the vomit puddle of the advertising world. Leave the man alone, stop hypothesising about what he may have earnt and have some respect. It’s Business. That’s it.
@dlo I’m with you brother.
I’m so bitter and twisted I don’t even care about this.
Looking forward to the next free ride brother
Between this and the Ben Coulson one, maybe it is time for Campaign Brief to actually check with the agency before they just publish a story that has not actually been approved by the agency.
They may not have written that, but I bet they thought it.
This is happening across the board, Steve Cochrane, Tony Clewitt, Andy, Ben C. Etc.
Let’s not forget the AD’s and Copywriters all getting the chop too.
This isn’t anything new.
This not because of Covid.
Agencies are realising they can get cheaper, younger creatives, CD’s and ECD’s for a third of the price and often in teams and do double the work.
I started out my career at a top agency with 3 CD’s and an ECD who were all 50+.
I was in my 20’s and learned the most from them then anyone else since.
Experience has a price tag, but clients aren’t looking for that.
So ageism and cost-cutting will remain today’s reality.
Very funny.
Andy is a wonderful human being, top bloke, one of the nicest Guys in the industry.
This is a true leader. I’m guessing Andy has chosen to leave to save a lot of other peoples jobs. Can’t wait to see where
You turn up next Andy.
400k cough…guess again. Many years ago the comm bank retainer got leaked to an all staff email with his salary noted on it so yes his leaving would save the agency a truck load.