Host/Havas Creative Chief Darren Spiller To Depart
Creative agency Host/Havas has announced that its chief creative officer, Darren Spiller, will be leaving the agency.
Spiller joined Host as its chief creative officer in January last year and then assumed the same role when the agency merged with Havas in October 2017.
Host/Havas has received of a long list of creative accolades this year, most notably for the ‘Palau Pledge’ campaign, which saw the agency named AWARD Agency of the Year, receive a D&AD Black Pencil and win three Grand Prix at Cannes Lions.
Host/Havas confirmed that Spiller’s role will not be replaced, with his duties being shared amongst the agency’s executive creative directors: Seamus Higgins, Ant Melder and Jon Austin.
Laura Aldington, CEO of Host/Havas, said: “I have been lucky enough to call Daz both a great friend and a great colleague over the years.
“It has been a genuine pleasure to partner with him again in the creation of Host/Havas and I am grateful for everything he has done to set us up for success.
“He leaves us in very safe hands with a formidably talented line up of creative leaders, and I’m excited about where they’ll take us next.”
Havas Group chairman Anthony Freedman added: “I would like to thank Darren for his passion, commitment and creativity and wish him every success in whatever adventures lie ahead.”
Commenting on his departure, Spiller said: “We are approaching the first birthday for Host/Havas and by any measure, it’s been an excellent 12 months.
“It was always my intention to help deliver the successful integration of Host and Havas Sydney before stepping aside to allow others to take it forward.
“The agency is in the shape of its life, so now feels like the right time for that to happen. The ECDs are incredibly talented and more than capable of taking the reins, and I wish them all the very best.”
Spiller’s first priority is to enjoy some well-deserved quality time with his family in Victoria, but said he would advise of his future plans in due course.
Latest News
Shop! ANZ Calls On Industry To Participate In ANZ Shopper And Retail Marketing Industry Survey
Shop! ANZ is calling on shopper and retail marketing professionals from all retail related disciplines to participate in the first ANZ Shopper and Retail Marketing Industry Survey in four years. This important research provides a guide of where the retail marketing industry in Australia and New Zealand has come from and what is anticipated to […]
How To Align A Marketing Strategy With Customers’ Shifting Perspectives
In this guest post, Ania Kubiak (main photo), A/NZ country manager at Lucid, offers her tips on how to align your brand with customers’ fast-moving expectations… In today’s digital world, the speed at which consumers’ perspectives and opinions on political and social environments is changing faster than ever before. Consumers are inundated with new information […]
Woolies’ Retail Media Business Cartology Announces New Appointments
Cartology, the retail media business of Woolworths Group, has further expanded its team with Martin Wood (pictured below) been promoted to head of strategic partnerships and Matt Gower (main photo) has joined the business as senior manager of research and insights. Wood will lead a new team dedicated to servicing the retail media business’s largest […]
WPP’s Chief People Officer Lisa Sheehan Latest To Depart
The broom continues to go through WPP's local operations. Yet, not where it's most needed - the dusty skirting boards.
Akcelo Launches Innovative Game Experience Platform For Tribeca Festival
Akcelo has launched an innovative gaming experience to showcase Tribeca’s Official Selections and celebrate the inaugural Tribeca Games Award at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
Gen Z And Millennial Pinterest Users Reveal What Inspires Their Post-Pandemic Shopping
Pinterest reveals what Ys & Zs are shopping for online. And if you're thinking peacocks or fez hats, you'd be wrong.
CNN Analyst’s Return Following Masturbation Incident Sparks Outrage
In a further blow to the Catholic Church, the CNN masturbator has returned to work and has reportedly not gone blind.
Ian Thorpe, Dami Im & Collette Dinnigan To Star In 10’s Celebrity MasterChef
Unlike many "celebrity" reality TV shows, 10's Celebrity MasterChef does appear to have actual bona fide celebrities.
Hansen Yuncken Appoints Icon Agency To Lead National Comms
For your reference, Hansen Yuncken is a construction company and not some weird European ice-cream brand.
Ben Roberts-Smith Hired a Private Investigator & Used Burner Phones, Court Hears
B&T would be surprised if they don't turn the Ben Roberts-Smith case into a movie. Or musical starring Hugh Jackman.
Condé Nast Agree To Wage Raise After Two-Year Campaign By The New Yorker Union
CondÉ Nast, the publisher of publications such as VOGUE, Vanity fair, Pitchfork and The New Yorker has agreed to raise the minimum wage for employees after a campaign by the New Yorker union. The union had previously organised a protest, which saw New Yorker staff demonstrating outside VOGUE editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s home. Placards at the protest had […]
Pedestrian Group Unveils Refinery29 Team Ahead Of ANZ Launch
Refinery29 releases press photo of launch team which, if it were a "who's tallest?" competition, would be a dead heat.
GoDaddy Wins Gold As Official Partner For Australian Olympic Team
GoDaddy has announced it has been named as the official website builder partner of the Australian Olympic team for the Tokyo 2020 Games. GoDaddy has a history of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners in Australia. Many Australian Olympic athletes are small business owners themselves, running businesses and side hustle to help support the pursuit […]
The Red Republic Announces New In-House Promotions
Red Republic announces in-house promotions. Apparently has no comment on ScoMo meeting the Queen yesterday.
French Star Removes Heineken Bottle At Press Conference A Day After Ronaldo’s $5.2B Coke Stunt
Soccer star removes zero-alcohol beer from press conference. For religious reasons, not because it tastes like shit.
Global Media Network MDC Partners Adds This Is Flow To Global Affiliate Program
MDC Partners (NASDAQ: MDCA), the company that owns agencies including 72andSunny, Anomaly and Media Kitchen, has expanded its global footprint in a partnership with This Is Flow. The Australian based indie will become MDC’s affiliate media planning and buying agency across Australia and New Zealand and will help manage global clients and participate on global pitches etc. however This is Flow will still remain 100% independent.
Broadsheet Media Appoints Emma Joyce National Assistant Editor
Broadsheet Media appoints Emma Joyce as national assistant editor with the remit to assist nationally.
Deloitte Digital Wins Round One Of Siren Awards For Suzuki Ad
Round one of the Siren Awards has been run & won with Deloitte Digital taking home the trophy & leftover sausage rolls.
Desert Island Discs, David Attenborough And More BBC Content To Be Hosted On LiSTNR
LiSTNR continues to rollout impressive content slate that sadly doesn't include the collected works of Jacqui Lambie.
“World’s Worst Football Team” Stars In Wonderfully Witty Work For Online Sports Betting Company
"World's worst footy team" star in new betting ad. And, you may be surprised to learn, it's not even the Wallabies.
DoubleVerify’s Custom Contextual Targeting Launches On The Trade Desk
DoubleVerify has announced the expansion of a partnership with The Trade Desk to include activation of DV Custom Contextual, which will enable programmatic advertisers using the platform to target relevant audiences in a privacy-safe manner that does not utilize cookies or personally identifiable information. The Trade Desk now supports a comprehensive suite of DV’s pre-bid […]
Wednesday TV Wrap: Hard Quiz Beats Travel Guides For Entertainment Lead, But Nine Wins The Night
Cold weather having little impact on TV viewer numbers. Same can't be said for the sale of Kmart's flannelette pyjamas.
Carat Melbourne Wins General Motors Specialty Vehicles’ Media, Makes Two Senior Appointments
Carat snares media for the iconic American truck brand. Thankfully, stops short of staff boot scooting competition.
Boris Johnson Tweets Criticism Of Anti-Lockdown Protestors Who Chased And Harrassed BBC Journalist
B&T would never tolerate abuse of journalists & that's despite receiving "you suck" emails from our own readers daily.
Seven Reveals Revenues Up 45% In Q4
Seven West Media releases Q4 update. Yet, no mention of Ben Roberts-Smith or James Warburton's gold-plated toilet seat.
marie claire Asks Australia’s Leading Advertising Agencies To Talk About Consent
Fashion mag dispenses with the overpriced handbags and tackles the important issue of sexual consent.
Envisioning The Future Of Targeted Advertising: Where Do We Go From Here?
The future of targeted advertising gets crystal-balled. Although B&T also briefly saw a tall, dark & handsome stranger.
Swinburne University Of Technology And FourthRev Help Students Gain Hands On Digital Skills
Swinburne University of Technology has launched a series of Bootcamp Graduate Certificate courses, developed in partnership with FourthRev. The courses, an Australian-first, will upskill career changers and provide students the capabilities required to thrive in the digital economy. They are available on-campus and through its online arm, Swinburne Online. Alongside completing projects which will emulate […]
PayPal Partners With Welcome To Country
PayPal has partnered with Welcome to Country, Australia’s first Indigenous-led not-for-profit marketplace, which showcases businesses that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Welcome to Country launched in 2019, providing an online platform for Indigenous experience providers across tours, day treks, scenic flights, bush food, festivals, art and cultural experiences. When the pandemic hit, the […]
Former Deputy PM Julie Bishop Now Has Her Own Barbie Doll
Former deputy PM Julie Bishop scores her own Barbie doll. Apparently Christopher Pyne wants one of his own too.
