Just seven months into the job Saatchi & Saatchi NZ ECD Dylan Harrison fords the Tasman for DDB Sydney executive creative director role

CB Exclusive – Just seven months after taking the Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand ECD gig after a decade at DDB London, Dylan Harrison has quit to rejoin the DDB network as executive creative director of DDB Sydney.

Harrison,the multi-awarded Aussie expat who spent 13 year in London, 10 of themat DDB, part fills the role held by Matt Eastwood, who is soon heading to the chief creative officer role at DDB New York.

At DDB London Harrison picked up numerous awards for clients as diverseas Volkswagen, Marmite, Budweiser and the Guardian newspaper. Inaddition to three nominations and a Silver pencil at D&AD, he haswon at every major awards show, including gold at Cannes, The One Show,Clio, ANDY, Creative Circle, Campaign Press and Eurobest.

His print ad ‘Cops’ for Volkswagen won both the Grand Prix in Cannesand Eurobest, making it one of the most awarded print ads in history.He repeated the double Grand Prix honours again last year, scoopingboth the Eurobest and Epica top award for the Singing Dog’ TV spot for Volkswagen.

InFebruary this year Melbourne-born Harrison (pictured left, betweenSaatchi Sydney’s CDDave Bowman and ECD Steve Back at the DDB Lunch inCannes in 2009), succeeded outgoing Saatchi’s ECD Mike O’Sullivan, whohad left to form Droga5 New Zealand with Saatchi CEO Andrew ‘Rocky’Stone.

SaysChris Brown, DDB Group Sydney’s managing director: “This is fantasticnews, it’s great to have a major talent like Dylan back in the DDBfamily. We attracted amazing candidates and Dylan was the pick of thebunch. As one of the most exciting and dynamic creative leaders in theindustry, he’s perfect to build on our success and takes us to the nextlevel.

“I had the pleasure of working with Dylan in London andhe is a natural fit with our culture. He’s obsessed with the power ofcreativity in solving real business problems and creating anenvironment where world class ideas thrive.”

Adds Harrison: “DDBSydney is an irresistible opportunity to join an agency at the top oftheir game. The team has great passion, energy and ambition and leadingedge capabilities across all media. Mixed with DDB’s relentless pursuitof what makes people tick, we get those rare big, colourful andridiculously engaging ideas.

“To partner with Chris and LeifStromnes, MD of Strategy and Innovation, and inherit such a strongcreative department is the perfect opportunity for me. With such anenviable client list in as innovative market as Australia, I simplycouldn’t resist.”

Harrison will lead the enviable line-up ofcreative talent at DDB Sydney, including creative director MarkHarricks, creative director for McDonald’s Adam Rose, digital CD MattGrogan and award winning senior team Steve Wakelam and Grant McAloon.

AtSaatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, in the last year alone he has wonthe highly coveted Sanitarium business and worked closely with clientsacross the board, launching new brand work for Telecom, Tui beer,Weetabix and New Zealand Post to name but a few.

Says MartyO’Halloran, chairman and CEO, Australia and New Zealand:  “Chris Brownand I undertook an international search and are certain we found thebest talent in the market. He gets we’re in the business of appliedcreativity, all the international awards he’s won have been solving thereal issues that keep our clients awake at night. Dylan and Chris willbe a great partnership continuing to drive the success of DDB GroupSydney.”