McGrath promoted to creative chairman of Clemenger BBDO Australia, Keogh to executive creative director of Clems Melbourne
EXCLUSIVE – In recognition of the duo’s amazing contribution to the agency, Clemenger BBDO has promoted James McGrath to creative chairman of Clemenger BBDO Australia and Ant Keogh to executive creative director of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.
“We need a focus for our creativity nationally and James will do this brilliantly,” says Clemenger Group chairman Robert Morgan.
“In this role, James will be able to work with our CDs across the country to improve our product, work better together, manage our creative resources and position us in the creative community. This does not mean that he will be running the creative departments across Australia or that the Creative Directors report to him. But, we do need a focus for our creativity nationally and James will take on that role,” says Morgan.
Named the ‘Creative Leader of the Year’ at the 2009 MADC awards,McGrath has shaped Clemenger BBDO Melbourne into one of the mostawarded agencies in the country, bringing home trophies from everymajor award show in the world. On top of all the Cannes, D&AD, TheOne Show, Clio, New York Festivals, AWARD, MADC, AdFest, ADMA andLondon International awards, the agency has also taken out recordnumbers of Effie awards, underpinning McGrath’s belief that great workworks.
Ant Keogh has been the writer responsible for some of the country’sbest-known advertising. The most noteworthy is the ongoing CarltonDraught ‘Made from Beer’ campaign, featuring ‘The Big Ad’ which wasrecently included in the Power House Museum’s ‘Top 10 Greatest
Australian Ads’ and won Campaign Brief’s ‘Ad of the Decade’ plus gold awards at Cannes,
One Show, AWARD, M2C, Adfest, Mobius, and the New York Festivals.
As a creative director, Keoghhas helped Clemenger BBDO Melbourne win2008 and 2009 Campaign Brief Agency of the Year, as well as the Adnewsand B&T State Agency of the Year. He has been creative director onsome of Clemenger BBDO’s most outstanding campaigns, including theFour’N Twenty Magic Salad Plate and the Carlton Dry Team Dry ‘TokyoBlitz’.
“Having Ant step up as executive creative director of Clemenger BBDOMelbourne means the agency’s reputation as a creative powerhouse is insafe hands. Ant is a unique talent in our industry and this is a rolehe richly deserves,” added Morgan.
Pictured from left: Ant Keogh, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne CEO Peter Biggs and James McGrath
12 Comments
Let’s home Rob Morgan has James McGrath tied down better than the previous agency!
Well deserved Ant. By far the best Creative in Australia finally gets his throne.
Congratulations James and Ant
Hey Ant, you just got BIG!
Cangrats.
So it’s true – an ant can carry 10 times it’s weight on it’s back.
Well done boyz.
Silent Sydney fan.
Guys…. you’re true legends. ’bout time Clems recognised what an asset you both are.
Normally a vicious, sniping presence on this blog, may I depart from character for a moment to add my congratulations to those of the others above. These are very good and well-deserved developments, and certainly much more inspired than some of Clemenger’s previous ‘brainwaves’.
Sounds like made up titles to me. But only because at any other place in town Ant would be ECD anyway. Nice one Ant, you’ve been someone I’ve looked up to my entire career. (Even though I’m about 10 inches taller.) Well done Sir, well played..
Top move. Maybe McGrath can sprinkle some of his magic dust on Clems Sydney, looks like they could do with some help.
Both brilliant and both very deserving!!!!
Well deserved Ant, certainly the best creative in the country.
Here’s hoping the ‘manwithanassface’ continues to inspire us all to be exceptional.
B.
Look, well done guys, but fuck me, it’s time we took a look at the ad man’s costume.
Talk about rams dressed as lambs.