O’Brien departs JWT for Kastner CD role

February 11 2010, 5:27 pm | BY Kim Shaw | 48 Comments

BenOBrien_WEB.jpgEXCLUSIVE – After a rapid and extensive search, Kastner & Partners has found a new creative director in Ben O’Brien, who joins the agency on 1 March. He fills the void left after the departure of Darryn Devlin in November.

O’Brien is leaving JWT where he was associate creative director. O’Brien has been awarded locally and internationally at shows including Cannes, Clio, The One Show, AWARD, The Caxtons, The Sirens and MADC.

At JWT, O’Brien worked on memorable campaigns such as Sultana Bran ‘Fight the Fuzzies’ and Honey Almond All Bran. Prior to JWT, O’Brien was a creative group head at DDB Sydney.

Says Kath O’Shea, managing director of Kastner & Partners: “Ben’s work is exceptional and he exudes optimism and motivation. Ben and I have a great rapport and shared drive to build on the success of Kastner & Partners.”

Says O’Brien: “Now isn’t the time to make a lot of empty promises about how unique and amazing our work is ‘going to be’. You can decide that for yourself after seeing what we produce. But after meeting the inspirational Johannes Kastner, I will say this: There is absolutely nothing standing in the way of Kastner and Partners in Sydney producing world-class creative work. It’s both daunting and exhilarating at the same time, and I’m incredibly excited to be involved.”

Kastner & Partners clients include both local and international accounts, including Red Bull which was the network’s founding client.