Jason Ross resigns executive creatiive director role at CHE Melbourne – replaced by Mike O’Hare

CHE,Melbourne has appointed Mike O’Hare to the role of executive creativedirector following the resignation of Jason Ross (left) who leaves thecompany after five years.

O’Hare, who has been creative director on Mazda for the past year, will step into the role effective immediately.

“Ithas been a fantastic few years and I’m really proud of the work we’vedelivered. The team is great and I will miss them all. But the time hascome for me to explore a new direction,” says Ross, who says his newdirection won’t commence until early 2011.

Priorto CHE, Ross was creative director and a partner at M&C Saatchi,Auckland from 2000 to 2005, having transferred from the CD gig atM&C Saatchi, Singapore. He started his career at Mojo in Melbourne,working with Sean Cummins, Lachie McPherson and Darren Spiller.

Mark Coad, CHE CEO says Ross’s energy and passion for the industry willbe missed: “It’s particularly fitting that Jason resigns after a recentsuccessful night at the MADC awards where the creative team picked upfive awards.

“Over the last decade Mike has worked as an ECD at leading agenciesaround the world including Lowe in Hong Kong, China and Tokyo, LeoBurnett in Moscow and JWT in Bangkok. That experience working onclients such as P&G, HSBC, Audi and of course Mazda ensures ourcreative department will deliver outstanding work for our existing andnew clients,” says Coad.

Coad says the decision to fill the position internally builds on otherrecent appointments to strengthen the agency’s core offer and position.

“I have appointed two managing partners to round out the seniormanagement team. Anathea Ruys joined us following ten years as managingdirector of Spark Activate, a large activation agency in Auckland, andClare Jones has been promoted from her role as general manager of SimonRichards, the direct and digital arm of CHE,” explains Coad.

“We have brought the digital and traditional disciplines togetheracross the agency including the creative department, account serviceand production. It makes sense for a results focused agency such as CHEto ensure we have the most streamlined processes to allow us to focuson delivering great work.”