M&C Saatchi Sydney promotes creative duo to lead Tourism Australia business

Paige Murphy
By Paige Murphy | 21 October 2020

M&C Saatchi Sydney has promoted David Govier and Rosita Rawnsley-Mason as joint creative directors.

Together, the pair will lead the Tourism Australia business.

M&C Saatchi executive creative director Avish Gordhan says the duo are both "absolute quality".

“They are genuinely good humans and formidable creatives with the talent, flair and care for the work that is essential to drive our creative output even further," says Gordhan.

"They’ve made consistently great work over their careers and they’re in the best position to continue that here on a key client. I’m super excited."

Rawnsley-Mason joined M&C Saatchi Sydney as senior art director in October 2019, bringing with her experience working on campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic brands including CommBank, Aldi, AEC, Adidas, Toyota, Daihatsu, TVNZ, MTV, Greenpeace, Sydney Film Festival, Crown Lager, and Cascade.

Having started her career at Ogilvy Auckland, she went on to work at Saatchi & Saatchi NZ, moving overseas in 2007 to join 180 Amsterdam.

The following year, a move to Sydney saw her freelance at a number of agencies, before settling at BMF in 2016 as senior art director.

Over the years Rawnsley-Mason has been recognised internationally for various campaigns, including launching Aldi’s new brand positioning ‘Good Different’; Aldi’s ‘Meet the Tinkletons’ Christmas Campaign and ‘Matesong’ for Tourism Australia.

“I'm looking forward to taking on this role alongside Dave on such an important piece of business," says Rawnsley-Mason.

"It has been a very challenging time for the tourism industry and I’m excited about the job creativity will play in getting people travelling again."

Joining her in the promotion is Govier, who joined M&C Saatchi in January 2019 having spent many years at agencies including Clemenger BBDO, Colenso BBDO and Saatchi in New Zealand, and Saatchi’s and RKCR/Y&R in London.

Throughout his career, he has worked on internationally recognised campaigns that have influenced popular culture such as one of New Zealand’s most quoted ads, 'Undies' for Trumpet Ice Cream; Guinness’ first global campaign for its 250th birthday, including the now legendary Arthur’s Day; and making headlines in Argentinian newspapers courtesy of a Maradonna lookee-likee.

"I’m excited by the opportunity to tell the world how great Australia is," says Govier.

"There’s never been a more interesting time to work on tourism, and I look forward to partnering with Rosita and the team at Tourism Australia." 

Govier will bring extensive and diverse experience to the role, having created award winning work for global brands from cars, and alcohol to telcos and everything in between.

M&C Saatchi was appointed to the Tourism Australia account in late 2018.

Since being appointed creative agency of record, M&C Saatchi has worked with Tourism Australia and its other agencies to launch Philausophy which includes a campaign Matesong featuring Kylie Minogue, and helped develop both tourism recovery campaigns, Holiday Here This Year, amid bushfires and the global pandemic.

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