The creative department at Clemenger BBDO is looking increasingly like a tin of sardines as the agency responds to recent growth by stuffing even more world-class creative thinkers into its interim office space in the Docklands.
The six latest hires include a mix of seasoned international leaders in creative directors Heidi Kasselman and Anthony Cassidy, and creative resource director Lizzie Slattery, along with rising local talents in senior creative Jake Blood, copywriter Talia Stone and art director Zaneta Vincent.
When polled, all were unanimous in the opinion that while they’re excited to get stuck into the many amazing briefs on offer, their current digs “feel like a call centre” with some remarking that “blood, sweat and tears is gross when you’re sitting this close” and that the new office “can’t come soon enough”.
“A problem shared is a problem halved. So when I landed a few months back to discover that our iconic St Kilda Road digs were now a pile of rubble and I would be spending my lunchtimes surrounded by Patagucci amongst the Docklands most middling food courts, I realised the only recourse left was to make others feel my pain. I look forward to spending six more performance reviews discussing the new office’s early new year opening dates with this delightfully talented group,” said Clemenger BBDO chief creative officer Adrián Flores.
“I’ve always considered Clems to be a bastion of unbridled creativity, and the shop that put Australia on the creative map globally. Moving over from the densely populated island of Singapore, I was initially concerned about the wide open spaces and fresh air Australia would have to offer. Luckily Adrián has reassured me that the middle of the Docklands is very much a refuge from any such luxury,” said Kasselman.
“I love being surrounded by such dynamic thinkers. I’m not such a big fan of constantly having to corral them. The building was a big draw card in me coming to work here – it’s a resourcing dream. The grey surrounds and constant traffic noise acts as a natural fence, barricading in the creatives and making it easier for me to keep them focused on our clients’ needs,” said Slattery.
Kasselman is relocating from Singapore where she has worked as a freelance CD for the likes of BBH and TBWA. She has spent 15 years leading creative teams in South Africa, Europe and Asia, including more than three years as Global Creative Director for Porsche with BBDO Germany, and for Mercedes-Benz, PepsiCo and MARS during her five-year stint with Network BBDO in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cassidy has relocated from the UK where he led teams in both in-house and agency environments, holding roles including Brand Creative Director for Marks and Spencer and CD with Arcadia Group and specialist fashion and retail creative communications agency, Portas.
Slattery returns home to Melbourne after a 7-year stint in London, most recently at We Are Social where she rose up the ranks to head resource management for London, the largest WAS office, resourcing up to 200 people a day across 5 departments.
Blood joins from three years with Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne. He has also held creative roles with M&C Saatchi, DDB Aotearoa NZ and Saatchi & Saatchi NZ. After beginning his career with CHEP Melbourne, he now helps shape next generation creatives in Victoria as AWARD School’s Top Tutor of 2024, mentoring three of this year’s Top 10 graduates, including the first-place getter.
Multidisciplinary designer Zaneta joins from T2 Tea, bringing VM and retail branding experience whilst budding stand-up comic and exceptionally funny copywriter Talia joins from three years at Deloitte following her graduation in AWARD School’s Top 10.
The bolstering of Clems’ creative department with these six new talents comes off the back of a busy new business period and follows the promotion of four high-performing existing creative team members, and four senior strategy appointments.
The agency will be moving into the Pink House on Little Collins early in the new year.
