Global creative agency OK COOL has hired a new managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Yash Murthy.
In his role he will lead the agency and drive OK COOL’s growth across the region, reporting to global CEO Benjamin Arnold.
Murthy joins from Create Group in Dubai, where he was executive director of strategy and social.
Prior to that role, he was head of creative & consulting at VaynerMedia Australia, where he led TikTok’s campaign of the year for PepsiCo.
He also brings brand-side experience from his time at cult fast-food brand Guzman y Gomez, where he built and ran the brand’s in-house creative agency.
Prior to that he spent four years at WPP’s AKQA Media as director of brand, social and creative strategy across APAC, in addition to roles at Ogilvy, Droga5, and M&C Saatchi.
“What attracted me to OK COOL wasn’t just the team’s innate understanding of how modern brands are built through subcultures, platforms, and communities; it was the sophistication with which they consistently turn that comprehension into distinct, culture-forward work,” said Murthy.
“Australia and New Zealand are two of the most vibrant and diverse nations on the planet, and I’m excited to be back home helping brands build the cultural associations that create fame, grow fandom, and ultimately drive the bottom line,” said Jolyon Varley, co-founder and global chief brand officer at OK COOL.
“We wanted a leader with the craft of modern brand building hardwired into them and the ability to help clients seize that opportunity. Yash has a rare mix of cultural intelligence, creative firepower, and entrepreneurial instinct, with the track record to back it up. Having him fly the flag for OK COOL is a major statement of how bullish we are about the region.”
