VMLY&R Brisbane has appointed Benjamin Davis (main photo) as executive creative director and Neil Atkin (below) as digital director.
Davis (pictured above) joins after 10 years leading creative departments at McCann in Melbourne and Queensland. Under his leadership, both markets enjoyed “remarkable” growth and creative success, VMLY&R said.
Adam Kennedy, managing director, VMLY&R Brisbane, said 2020 had thrown the industry a lot of challenges, but the VMLY&R Brisbane team had thrived through the adversity.
“I am genuinely excited to be starting 2021 on such a high and have two talents of Ben and Neil’s calibre join the team,” Kennedy said.
“This is our latest step to ensure VMLY&R Brisbane continues to produce the most contemporary, world-class creative, experience and technology work for our clients.”
Paul Nagy, National CCO, VMLY&R Australia, said: “VMLY&R is one of the most successful and effective agencies in Brisbane thanks to the extraordinary work of Adam and his team.
“I’m so excited to be adding Ben and Neil’s talent and experience into that mix and have high expectations for outstanding work and a seamless collaboration between the creative and digital teams.
“I know together they will form a formidable partnership with the existing team and feel this will be a really exciting time for VMLY&R and its clients in Queensland.”
Davis, a senior creative leader for the last 15 years, has built and lead creative teams for some of the most awarded and effective multi-national agencies nationwide.
His award-winning creativity has provided business solutions for clients such as Mastercard, L’Oreal, Queensland Government, Queensland Police Service, Brisbane Marketing, and Auswide Bank.
“VMLY&R is the benchmark in the Brisbane market,” Davis said.
“It’s an honour and privilege to lead the team with Adam. I’m incredibly passionate about purpose, connection and efficacy in the work I create, and I hope that enthusiasm is infectious.
“I really do believe that the work we do for our clients can quite literally make the world just a tiny bit better when we put our hearts into every facet of what we do.
“Working with Adam, Neil and rest of the leadership team, we’ll ensure our clients are equally passionate and energised by the vision of what they can achieve with their brands. There’s never been a better time to be in the business.”
Renowned digital expert Neil Atkin joins the agency in the role of digital director, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in creating customer-focused digital experiences, as well as project, client, account, strategic and operational management, to VMLY&R.
Atkin has previously held senior digital roles at BBDO, Critical Mass and BCM Group among others, in markets as far afield as Canada, USA, Costa Rica and Bulgaria.
His project and technical management experience—including gamification, emerging tech, data, platforms and innovation—will significantly enhance the quality and experience of all digitally delivered products to VMLY&R Brisbane’s clients, the agency said.
Atkin said: “I’m excited to be joining VMLY&R and be part of what I believe to be the best talent in Queensland. I was immediately drawn to VMLY&R’s ethos of placing the customer need at the centre of the experience and building creative and digital experiences around that point.”
