One of the creative industry’s most experienced creative directors, Mike Preston, has formally joined Newcastle-based creative agency Headjam as a partner taking on the new roles of principal and executive creative director.
After working with the team for the past few years Preston joins Luke Kellett and Sarah Cook as an owner and director of the agency that now includes a team of 11 people developing brands and campaigns for clients across Australia.
Preston brings more than three decades of expertise creating international award-winning campaigns. For the past 12 years he has work has focused on the human condition and the creation of meaningful content in health and social sciences for film and other creative disciplines.
He created campaigns for the RTA, EPA including the “Tosser” campaign, Government Census, Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW, NSW Health, NSW Police, Medicare Local and the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.
Preston has won major international creative awards including Grand Prix gold, silver and bronze at the prestigious AWARD, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, D&AD, New York One Show, Campaign Press, British Design Council, New York Festivals, London International, Kinsale, Clio, Folio and Caxton.
Headjam managing director Luke Kellett, said that Preston is one of the only local creative directors to achieve such high accolades.
‘Mike brings a depth of experience to our team that has included some of the most influential campaigns in the health and community sectors. His experience and knowledge will provide enormous benefit to our clients,’ he said.
“We are incredibly privileged to have Mike join the team.”
Preston is no stranger to the Hunter. For the past two years he has worked with Headjam on a number of projects.
Preston’s three decade career in advertising and communication has included directing the launch of major brands such as Optus and Hahn in the Australian marketplace. Career highlights include two of Australia’s longest running campaigns, one for Johnson & Johnson and the other for Colgate.
He worked with a long list of renowned agencies including JWT, Publicis, McCann Erickson, FCB, George Patterson and Clemenger BBDO. Mike has vast experience in the area of social marketing, and has worked on many campaigns for both the Federal and State governments.
In 2011 Preston co-founded Creative’s Co-op, a creative consultancy that develops ideas and solutions for marketing, brand and advertising communications. In 2013 Mike and the Creative’s Co-op collaborated with Headjam for the creation of the South Western Sydney Partners ‘In Recovery’ campaign. Its success led to further collaboration in 2014 as part of the Eastern Sydney Partners In Recovery campaign.
“Headjam is the right size to be an incredibly agile firm. Focussing on clients in the sectors of community, health, arts and education aligns nicely to the type of creative work I love doing,” Preston said.
“The combination of experience and expertise enables Headjam to focus on constantly improving the work we do to ensure our clients get the most effective outcomes.”
Headjam is a Newcastle-based creative agency specialising in 2D, 3D, digital and film mediums, a range of design services including graphic design, branding, strategy, digital marketing, project management, advertising, print, web and digital, broadcast and motion graphics and photography.
