Host/Havas has announced its executive creative director, Jon Austin, will take the sole reins of the agency’s creative leadership.

Following a creative restructure, Austin will take on his new responsibility following the departures of co-ECD’s, Seamus Higgins and Ant Melder.

Austin will oversee the creative output across the agency, with a growing focus on the intersection of entertainment, innovation and advertising.

Over the past six years with the agency, Austin has led a series of major campaigns, including the development of Air New Zealand’s critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning brand campaigns such as the chart-topping ‘Summer Wonderland’ and ‘A Very Merry Mistake’ as well as the Super Bowl’s ‘Losers’ Paradise’.

Austin said: “I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.

“Not just because we have an incredible stable of collaborative and adventurous clients, but because I find myself surrounded by some of Australia’s most formidable creative talent, sharpest strategic minds and most inspiring leadership.

“Host/Havas is one hell of a family, with one hell of a future.

“I’m grateful for the continued opportunity to help chart its course”.

Host/Havas CEO Laura Aldington said: “Jon has proven himself to be an exceptional creative leader and is responsible for some of our most popular work over the last six years, as well as the vast majority of our new business success.

“We are incredibly excited to be opening the next creative chapter for the agency under his watchful and very talented eye”.

Higgins leaves the agency after more than five and a half years to pursue an exciting new opportunity following a successful tenure, which has seen him lead a number of successful, multi-award-winning campaigns.

Melder also departs the agency for pastures new, following a successful two year focus on Defence Force Recruiting (DFR), which helped result in the 2018 Grand Effie for Long-Term Effectiveness.

Higgins will leave the agency in March and the new creative structure will take effect immediately.