In an era of chop and change, 25 years with one company is incredibly rare, but that is exactly what DDB-ers gathered last night to celebrate, Marty O'Halloran's quarter-century tenure with the network.
While DDB Group's Australia and New Zealand's chairman and chief executive technically achieved the 25-year landmark with DDB in November last year, it was not until last night his achievements were celebrated on a surprise cruise in Sydney.
He joined DDB's Melbourne office in 1986 as an account manager, working on accounts including McDonald's and Colgate Palmolive. A transition across the Tasman to our New Zealand compatriots saw O'Halloran promoted to account director two years later.
He spent the next 17 years in Auckland progressing up to chief executive of the New Zealand business in 2001. In 2005, DDB signalled its intentions for closer trans-Tasman ties and O'Halloran was elevated to chairman and chief executive of Australia and New Zealand and returned to the sunburnt land. But the lure of the land of long white cloud was too strong and he moved back to Auckland three years ago, but still divides his time between the three offices.
Respected by clients and associates alike, O'Halloran's reputation in adland is formidable. His colleagues, themselves all stalwarts of the network, are effusive with praise for O'Halloran, citing his passion, business acumen and relationship building skills as key to his and the network's successes.
DDB Sydney group managing director, Chris Brown, said: "Marty is without a doubt one of the best in the business. He's passionate about great creative, he's passionate about people and helping them succeed, and he's passionate about driving our clients' businesses forward. In an industry with more than its fair share of unhealthy egos, it is great to see someone at the very top is the epitome of DDB's 'talented and nice' philosophy".
DDB Melbourne group managing director, Andrew Little, said: "He has brought respect, trust and friendship between the three offices as well as a healthy dose of competitiveness. As a manager, he is a coach and mentor and does not impose himself on the management of the agency. More than all of this, he is a great bloke and a great friend.
"As an ex-Australian oarsman he does bring a lot of rowing analogies which can be confusing and I believe he has just taken up cycling (note mid life crisis) and the thought of him in lycra scares me to death."
DDB New Zealand group chief executive, Sandy Moore, said: "All the qualities an Ad Man needs to be truly successful are embodied in Marty; passion for his clients' business, a creative champion, a strong belief that relationships win and save business, people focused, fun loving, street smart, financially astute, profit motivated, respected by his peers, a true leader who always leads from the front and last but not least, all all-round good guy."
DDB Sydney managing director, Strategy and Innovation, Leif Stromnes, said: "Marty is a legend of our network. What impresses me most is his passion for our business and his love of great work. He is as excited about DDB now as he was when he walked into his first creative presentation as a grad 25 years ago. The network should bottle his magic and export it to all 200 DDB offices."
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