CHE Proximity has bolstered its creative leadership team with three new ECDs, welcoming Wes Hawes as ECD in Sydney, Helen James as ECD – Retail, and promoting Glen Dickson to ECD in Melbourne.
All three ECDs will report to chief creative officer, Ant White, and will start immediately.
CHEP CCO Ant White said: “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.
“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”.
Hawes joins CHEP from Marcel, taking on ECD duties in the Sydney office.
Hawes was promoted to ECD at Marcel last year, where he worked on campaigns like 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.
Hawes said: “I love what’s going on at CHEP. From their unique creative philosophy to the culture-defining work they’re creating right now. There’s also such energy and positivity that exudes through the whole agency. It’s intoxicating and powerful”.
James will lead the agency’s growing Retail division, bringing with her over 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.
She has been voted one of Australia’s most notable industry talents in AdNews’s ’40 under 40′, and in 2017 was a finalist in B&T’s Women in Media Award.
Her client work has spanned the gamut of retail, including ALDI, OPSM, Optus, Disney, Hyundai, Rebel, IKEA and more.
Dickson has also been promoted from group creative director to executive creative director.
Joining CHEP in 2017, 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.
Highlights during his time so far include overseeing work on RACV, AGL, Latitude, Australian Gas Networks and Carsales.
CHEP CEO Chris Howatson said: “Our clients trust us with their brands and to achieve their targets, so this is the perfect time to welcome Wes, Helen and Glen.
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”.
