CHE Proximity has bolstered its top creative ranks with a trio of new ECD hires.
Marcel ECD Wes Hawes has been hired alongside Clemenger Sydney ECD Helen James. In addition, CHE group creative director Glen Dickson has been promoted to to ECD in Melbourne.
Hawes is the latest big exit from Publicis shop Marcel, after official confirmation last week that Marcel founder David Nobay was departing.
Sydney-based Hawes was promoted to ECD at Marcel last year, where he worked on campaigns such as Tiger Beer’s Cannes-Lion-winning ‘Air-Ink’ and ‘Rare Stripes’, and Tinder’s ‘Represent Love’. Before that, Wes was joint-ECD at TBWA\Sydney, and BBH London, where he spent most of his career working on brands such a Lynx/Axe, Barclaycard and the Guardian.
James, who takes the ECD of retail position, marks the second major hire poached from Clemenger's stables. Earlier this month it was revealed that managing partner at Clemenger Group in New Zealand, Vanessa Nicol, was returning to Australia to take up the CHE Proximity Sydney MD role.
In her new role James will lead the agency’s growing retail division, bringing with her more than 20 years of advertising experience in both the UK and Australia.
Since October 2016, she has been leading the creative retail teams as ECD retail at Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, including Myer and QIC GRE shopping centres. Her client work spans ALDI, OPSM, Optus, Disney, Hyundai, Rebel, IKEA and more.
All three ECDs will report into chief creative officer, Ant White, and start immediately.
CHE Proximity is split across two locations, Sydney and Melbourne, and the new leadership structure will work together with the team to lead the agency and its clients to new creative strengths.
“With so much content and noise in the world, the power of big, expansive creative thinking, craft and great storytelling is as vital as ever before,” White says.
“But today, this creativity can be combined with tech tools, data and media smarts to make sure our ideas are amplified, directed and find their place in the world.
“In Wes, Glen and Helen we have found experienced creative leaders with a track record of producing exactly this kind of work. We’re excited to see what they can achieve with the full force of the agency behind them.”
Rounding out the trio, new ECD Dickson has been running the Melbourne creative team for the past 18 months. He has worked hard to strengthen the agency's creative capabilities and bring to life its ethos of “connected creativity”.
CHE Proximity Chris Howatson says it was the “perfect time” to welcome the new trio.
“Glen has demonstrated excellent leadership at CHEP over the last 18 months, and despite only recently joining, Helen and Wes already feel like they are part of our family sharing our values and ambition for the work. With Ant, the year ahead is very exciting,” Howatson said.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.