Second senior creative departure from Meerkats as Creative Director Paul Coghlan resigns
Creative Director and shareholder Paul Coghlan (pictured) has resigned from Meerkats. He is the second senior creative to resign from the agency after co-CD Dan Bradley announced his resignation last week. Campaign Brief understands Coghlan resigned before Bradley but delayed making an announcement while the terms of his departure were finalised.
Coghlan said it was time for a new challenge.
“I’ve had a great nine years with Meerkats. I’ve created some award-winning work that I’m proud of, worked with some brilliant people, been part of three CB Agency of the Year wins, and helped build the agency to where it is today. But it’s time to move on and I’m really excited about the next chapter.”
Coghlan began his career at Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne, before he made the move to WA in 2006. Following brief stints at 303 and Saatchi & Saatchi NZ, he returned to Perth and joined Meerkats in 2008.
One of Perth’s most highly regarded creatives of the last decade, Coghlan has been responsible for award-winning work across a number of clients, including Brownes Dairy (the recent Effie-nominated and CB Integrated Campaign of the Year Natural Silence, among others), Lotterywest, Murdoch University, and HBF as well as helping to launch P&N Bank into WA.
He was also a key contributor in winning the Brownes Dairy and Synergy accounts for the agency.
Coghlan has risen through Meerkats as Senior Writer, Deputy Creative Director and latterly Creative Director of the advertising and comms side of the creative department. He has been a regular tutor for AWARD School, sits on the National Sirens Creative Council and has nurtured young Kats in the agency’s FuturKats program.
14 Comments
“No, I resigned first.”
“No. It was me. Check the blog timeline on Campaign Brief.”
“Yeah. But I actually put my resignation in before you.”
“Look, we’re Meerkats, not copycats. We’ve both resigned, so let’s just move on, OK?”
“OK. But I’m moving on first”
“No, I said I was moving on first”
…
Whilst no-one wants to say it , the ascension of Beecroft would have certainly have played a part in these resignations. It signals a new direction for Meerkats, away from proven creative talent like Paul and Dan. Time will tell if it was a wise decision.
Time for the Chairman and co-founder to put the harness back on and write some award winning copy before the clients start leaving too!
Add Senior Producer Nicole Beer to the list, and you’ve got what seems like a rush for the revolving door!
Mexit continues.
What now my love
Now that it’s over
I feel the world closing in on me
Here comes the stars
Tumbling around me
And there’s the sky where the sea should be
All the best Paul! No doubt have something great in the pipeline. Whatever / where ever, hope the summer of cricket is good! B x
Paul is a great guy and a very talented creative. It feels like he didn’t really get a chance to show what he could do as CD at Meerkats. I’m looking forward to seeing where he goes to next. He’ll smash it.
Only two comments.
This is big news, isn’t it?
All the best, Paul.
Good luck Paul. You’re an extremely talented and hard working man and many of the bricks that make up Meerkats today were laid by you.
Two CDs at Meerkats??
Another senior producer / head of production Sam Rees is leaving too. Been there since day one.
What is going on there? You’d think this would be the opportunity for the second tier of Kats to step up and take the reins.
Is Sam Rees headed fro 303, Marketforce or The Brand Agency?