Anna Jackson, Telstra’s head of creative excellence, is to depart the telco for Westpac, B&T can reveal.
Jackson joined Telstra a little more than two years ago and has been an important member of the telco’s marketing team that, along with bespoke agency +61 and creative hotshop Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, has produced some of the best creative in recent years.
She’ll serve as Westpac’s head of brand, content and creative.
“Opportunities like this are rare,” Jackson told B&T.
“Westpac is in an exciting chapter of growth and I can’t wait to help steward brands with such significance and potential.
“Working on Telstra’s creative transformation has been nothing short of a privilege and I will miss the team immensely.”
Prior to her time at Telstra, Jackson spent nearly five years with IAG from October 2018 to July 2023, rising to become executive manager, brand strategy and creative execution.
Telstra’ current CMO, Brent Smart, was IAG’s CMO between February 2017 and September 2022.
“We are sad to see Anna leave, she is a unicorn who can apply creativity inside corporate environments,” Smart told B&T.
“We are excited for her to have such a big opportunity to lead a major Australian brand, and know she will continue to raise the bar for big brand creativity. This creates an opportunity for the right strategic talent to pick up where Anna left off and help drive our continued pursuit for world class creativity on the Telstra brand.”
Jackson has also spoken at Cairns Crocodiles, presented by Pinterest, on the balance between effectiveness and creative risk-taking in modern advertising.
“We’re pleased to confirm the appointment of Anna Jackson as Westpac’s new head of brand, content and creative. Anna brings a wealth of experience in shaping brand ideas to deliver commercial results, and we look forward to welcoming her to the team in September,” a Westpac spokesperson told B&T.
Jackson’s appointment follows a time of flux in Westpac’s marketing division. Chief marketer Annabel Friebence departed the bank earlier in March following a significant restructure of the department and a tumultuous creative agency review. She returned to the world of QSR, stepping into the void left by McDonald’s marketing boss Chris Brown after his departure. B&T would reveal that BMF had won the Westpac pitch.
NRMA Insurance marketing head Michelle Klein is Westpac’s incoming chief growth and marketing officer.
