Hannah Lawson, Jessica Beal, Katie Bassett, Lulu Chia, and Savannah Anseline have joined Wieden+Kennedy’s team almost exactly a year after the Sydney office was established.
The five hires includes two creatives, two producers, and a designer.
Jessica Beal and Hannah Lawson have joined as art director and copywriter, following a stint freelancing. Before that, Beal worked at 72andSunny and Lawson at Today the Brave. The pair also spent time at DDB Sydney, where they worked on McDonald’s Australia, a piece of business the agency had for more than 50 years before W+K won it locally, leading to the Sydney business being set up a year ago.
They said they have always wanted to work at Wieden+Kennedy because “we’re only human”.
“We’re pinching ourselves that we’ve been lucky enough to join the incredible team here in Sydney. We can’t wait to make the best work of our lives here with everyone”.
Katie Bassett and Savannah Anseline have both joined as senior producers. Bassett was hired last year following a year at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Apple’s agency, and seven and a half years at The Monkeys, now known as Droga5. She switched from account management to production at The Monkeys; before that, she was an account director on the Telstra account. Her resume also features time at McCann, VCCP, Lucky Generals, and Karmarama.
“Walking through the doors at W+K felt like coming home,” she said.
“It’s a place that manages to create a genuine calmness within the chaos of adland and gives you the space to feel like you can make the best work of your life. There’s some projects in the pipeline that feel like they could be just that, and I’m very excited for what’s to come”.
Anseline also started late last year, ending a five year freelance run. She was at TBWA for six years until 2019, and said Wieden “has an energy that pushes you to aim higher — in the bold work, the talented people, and in the genuine belief that we’re all here to make the best work of our lives every day.
“Being part of a team that backs ideas and gives you the support to bring them to life is a rare combination, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 and beyond holds”.
Lulu Chia has been appointed senior designer, with experience spanning agencies such as Frost, Enigma, and MIK, brands such as Universal Music, SABI Pets, and TAFE, and her own studio. The latter saw her work directly with clients, in addition to contracting for agencies and production companies like Special, Vayner, Havas, and Entropico.
“At W+K, design and creative thinking come together early, giving ideas space to move fluidly across disciplines,” she said. “It’s exciting to be with exceptional and curious-minded people who bring a sense of fun to thoughtful work”.
The five additions will work with CDs Roy Leibowitz and Chris Wilson, who were among the first hires W+K Sydney made to service McDonald’s.
Across the past year, the agency has printed Wingdings on billboards to launch McWings, stuck sauce lids to walls, rolled out an 18-film campaign for the Monopoly promotion, and recruited The Grinch at Christmas time for ‘I’m Ruinin’ It’. The agency also works with McDonald’s in the US and Canada.
To win the business locally, it prevailed in a closed pitch featuring a roster of McDonald’s’ global agencies, including Droga5 and a model similar to Telstra’s +61. The scope began with the Chicken and McCafe work, but has since expanded.
Wieden+Kennedy Sydney also works with global client Nike.
