DDB promotes Hankinson and Brady

DDB New Zealand has promoted two of its senior creatives. Effective immediately, Dave Brady takes on the role of head of art, while Paul Hankinson has been made head of copy.

Hankinson (left) has been with DDB as creative group head for three years. Prior to DDB, he spent time at agencies on both sides of the Tasman, including The Campaign Palace Melbourne and Mojo Auckland, where he wrote award-winning campaigns for Hallensteins, Coke and Burger Rings.

Brady (above left)has been Art Director at DDB for two years. This follows four years atDraftFCB, and 10 years in London working across a wide range of clientsincluding Honda, Zanussi, Virgin (Holidays), Eurosport, New ZealandLamb and MTV.

DDB Group executive creative director Toby Talbot says that Hankinson and Brady were natural choices for the roles: “Hanko’s job, as the most senior copywriter, is to raise the standard of writing, specifically our junior teams. Dave’s remit, as well as continuing as one half of a great team with Joe Hawkins, is to oversee our talented Craft Department.”

Hankinson is suitably pleased with his new role: “I’m very happy with this position, and fully intend to abuse it to fulfill a long-held desire to get words such as ‘cockamamie’ and ‘skylarking’ back into the everyday parlance of the general population.”

Stepping into the Head of Art role following Mike Davison’s departure, Brady says: “Mike D was one of the contributing factors to me joining DDB. He’s been responsible for some of the best print work in the country during his time here and having had the opportunity to collaborate with him has been amazing. 

“It’s a really exciting time for DDB and Mike’s left the department in great shape. We have the resources and talent in place to continue to push our craft and I’m looking forward to doing just that.”

Junior creative team Pip Perkins and Jen Ko have also been hired as full time members of the creative department, just three months after finishing their studies at AUT.

“After three long, arduous months on placement, Pip and Jen have succeeded where many fail. They have brilliantly made the transition from make believe briefs at AUT to real ones at DDB,” says Talbot.