Lavender continues to beef up creative with appointment of Tan Gout Nee and Brian Eagle

Following the appointment of Luke Chess as executive creative director (effective February 22) Lavender, Sydney has hired two new creative heads for its restructured creative department: Tan Gout Nee (left), as creative director of Direct and Brian Eagle (above) as creative director of Brand Design.

Tan Gout Nee, who is one of Australia’s most awarded direct creatives, joins Lavender from his ECD post at Clemenger Proximity, Melbourne. He will be partnered by Justin Olding, who joins as senior writer. Olding recently arrived back in Sydney after two years at Proximity, Toronto.

Says Lavender founder Will Lavender: “For years I’ve watched Tan wear atrail to the award stage. We’re privileged to have him lead our directcreative. Tan has a track record of creating award winning advertisingthat does what its meant to do. His work for brands like ANZ has ledthe dm industry.”

Adds Chess: “I can’t wait to start working with Tan. He occupies aplace at the very top of the direct marketing industry, and as suchhe’s exactly the kind of talent I’m looking to bring to Lavender acrossevery creative discipline.”

Brian Eagle is New Zealand born and comes to Australia after ten yearsworking in the UK as creative director of Unreal, specialising indeveloping brand personalities across all disciplines. His achievementsinclude a D&AD Yellow pencil and Designweek Light bulb. Eagle willhead up Lavender’s brand design team.

Says Chess: “Lavender has a formidable team of brand and digitaldesigners and they’re doing some great work for Lavender clients. We’veput brand and digital designers together because brand designers aregreat at digital and already their skills are rubbing off. I’m excitedto be working with Brian and his stunning team and together I’m hopingwe’ll be bringing much more branding work into Lavender.”