Thrive PR + Communications has welcomed Tom Selby (pictured) to the newly created Creative Director role as the agency continues to expand its creative capabilities.
A multi-award-winning creative with more than 15 years’ international and local advertising agency experience, Selby has worked at creative agencies across Hong Kong and Sydney including DDB, Tribal DDB, 303Lowe, and, most recently, Archibald Williams.
His work has been awarded at Cannes, Spikes, Adfest and the Webbys, plus a career-highlight 2nd place (Farmyard and Livestock category) in his primary school costume contest in 1989.
“I’m pinching myself to be here, to be honest, given Thrive’s portfolio and the global brands that I’ve seen come through the door since I arrived,” said Selby.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside Leilani Abels to strengthen the creative offering at Thrive and build an end-to-end creative offering that’s a bit different from what we are seeing from PR agencies. I’ve been in adland for a while, so to take everything I’ve learned and apply it to storytelling in a new way, is an exciting challenge.”.
Thrive managing director and founder Leilani Abels said of the appointment, “Tom is a key hire for us as we continue our ambitious growth and diversification plans in the region. His experience and impressive body of creative work was the initial hook, and then as conversations continued, it was clear that his creative smarts, collaborative nature, strategic nous, and ambition to build and grow a unique creative offering were the combination we were looking for. His appointment only strengthens what we do for our current clients in Australia and New Zealand.”
This new role extends the in-house content, digital and social team led by Integration Director, Georgia Bainbridge, who returned to Thrive in early 2020 after ten years at Dentsu International. Georgia has since grown the team to a full-service digital studio with in-house designers, video producers, and social media specialists.
