The Brand Agency pulls off a creative coup luring Garry Horner to Perth as ECD
The highly awarded, former Whybin TBWA Sydney and DDB Sydney Creative Director Garry Horner is joining The Brand Agency in Perth in the newly created position of Executive Creative Director. Prior to arriving in Australia 14 years ago, Horner worked at London’s legendary creative powerhouses, Collett Dickenson & Pearce and WCRS, before joining DDB Sydney as Creative Director in 1996. Whilst there, the Agency was named Campaign Brief’s Australian Creative Agency of the Year twice, as well as runner up on several occasions.
Horner recently left Whybin TBWA, where he helped to rejuvenate the Agency’s creative reputation. Last year it was ranked the number one creative agency in Australia on the ‘Bestads’ web site, and number seven globally. Horner’s move to The Brand is part of a strategic restructure that will allow current Creative Director Craig Buchanan to step back from creative management to take a more hands on approach to his creative work.
“About six months ago Craig told me that he wanted to spend more time focusing purely on producing great creative work by taking a more hands on approach to ideas and craft.” The Brand Agency Managing Director, Steve Harris said. “This move will allow him to do that and at the same time work with one of Australia’s most highly credentialled ECDs.”
“It’s an exciting time to be at The Brand Agency. I’m really looking forward to working with Garry on improving our creative product,” said Buchanan.
Buchanan will remain a Creative Director and will report to Horner when he takes over at the end of August. Horner will have full responsibility for the management and leadership of the creative team and the quality and effectiveness of the Agency’s creative product.
“I was looking for a totally new and challenging opportunity and after having spoken with the guys from The Brand Agency I soon realised I’d found it,” said Horner.
“The Brand Agency is key player in the Perth market, with a very clear vision for where they want it to go. Naturally I’m really excited to be an integral part of that vision. The Agency is very strong but there’s great potential to grow and be even stronger.”
23 Comments
Big move for The Brand. Great for them and great for the Perth industry. Decent creatives may now want to work there.
9:08
Thanks man, appreciate it.
I think 9.12 must mean Perth!
Why did he leave tbwa?
Congrats Brand but I’ll give him 6 months after he meets the WA clients. They’ve been cocooned so long that they think they know it all and end up fucking everything up.
Welcome Garry. Good to attract world-class talent to Perth.
For 11.45
http://www.campaignbrief.com/2010/05/garry-horner-resigns-from-whyb.html
Anyone over there who knows Garry and his passion for creativity will understand why Brand has just become THE place to ply your creative trade – if you’re good enough, that is. Looking forward to seeing how the other big shops respond to being thrown this curve ball.
12.12 – let’s not forget that those pesky clients pay your salary
Big sideways shunt for Craig, eh?!
“And he that taketh up the sword, so shall he die by it.”
No 12:43. The effectiveness of our work pays THIER salary. We’re merely trying to make them successful. After all, isn’t that why they employ an agency in the first place. If they think that they could do a better job, then piss the agency off and start an in-house studio.
Can’t wait to see who The White Room appoints in response to this. Nobby, Toby Talbot??
Ouch 2.12.
Though you should get back to work, your boss might be watching.
It will be interesting to see if Garry sucessfully emulates Andrew Tinning’s seamless transition to the west coast or struggles to establish himself like some of the high profile recent imports
4.19 – you make it sound as if Tinning was moving to Nigeria. We all speaka da same language in the West. Sure we have to make allowances for him being a Kiwi.
I give Garry 6 months.
Beware of that moustachioed gentleman across the road, Garry, he’ll drink you under the Royal India table!! LOL
7.04.
Interesting comparison. Though I suspect Nigeria produces a little less scam.
@1:23
It’s narrow minded opinions like yours that give our profession a bad name. Marketing and advertising is just one component of a successful business.
What’s a great campaign worth if the product sucks?
What’s a great campaign worth if the distribution isn’t correct?
What if the pricing is incorrect? What if the staff structure and moral is wrong?
Not to worry, our agency did a great ad or two, they’ll pay our salary.
Get over yourself…
Well we’re seeing the best and the worst of Perth’s advertising fraternity in this thread.
Perth should see this as an exciting time for the whole industry (not just The Brand) and try and make Garry as welcome as possible, not guess how long he will last.
I’ll be welcoming him with open arms and trying to learn something from his experience and knowledge of the industry instead.
forget about it…
Craig. When does the book come out? Keen to see it.