CHE reverts to Clemenger Harvie and welcomes back founder Peter Harvie after 18 years away
Melbourne’s Clemenger Harvie Edge will change its name to Clemenger Harvie later this year as the agency welcomes the return of founder and Australian advertising industry icon, Peter Harvie (left), to the role of Non-Executive Chairman.
Says Mark Coad, CHE CEO: “When he founded Clemenger Harvie in 1974, Peter’s vision was to build a strong agency on a bedrock of effective work, fast response and strong client partnerships. Over the past decades CHE has delivered on that vision with a strong and stable client base – many of which joined the agency during Peter’s time at the helm.
“We have made significant changes to CHE over the past 18 months, including implementing a new business model, bringing new clients into the group and restructuring the leadership team. As we continue to grow it felt like the ideal time to invite Peter back in this advisory role to share his significant experience with the Clemenger Harvie Edge group of agencies. It’s also incredibly fitting that Peter returns to the Clemenger Group at this stage in his career.”
Harvie first joined the Clemenger Group in 1966, becoming an associate director within three years and founding what would become Clemenger Harvie Edge five years later. He was appointed a Director of Clemenger Group in 1975.
He ran CHE until 1993 when he moved across to Village Roadshow where he led the radio, online and interactive group to become one of Australia’s finest media businesses. He was appointed Chairman of Austereo in 1997 and held that role until Austereo was acquired by Southern Cross Media Group this year. He remains a director of Village Roadshow Ltd and Southern Cross Media Group Ltd.
Harvie will take up his role in a part time capacity from 3 October, assisting the group’s leadership team headed up by CEO, Mark Coad.
10 Comments
What a joke! All is not well at CHE to bring back Harvie after all this time. It must make Coad and the leadership team nervous.
Wow! He’s even older than me.
CHE can play around with its name, appoint a handful of CDs from its internal group of ‘creatives’ and do whatever else they think will help change their image as being one of the worst agencies in Melbourne. However, let’s face it, with so many inexperienced, egotistical and insecure car dealer types running the management and creative departments, CHE will forever produce the kind of work best showcased under a tree being admired by flies
CHE produces the kind of work you get when an AE can override the CD. They’re not alone though, and it’s a shame.
CHE’s a practical agency. As much as I’m sure they’d like to win the big awards, their focus is creating advertising that works for their clients, which is something a lot of other agencys should consider doing. Prehaps they don’t produce the most ‘creative’ work in the industry, but they do produce work that works.
Looks like they’ve lost their edge
Age is merely a state of mind and Peter Harvie has the runs on the board to give HC a new lease of life and turn the ship around, back to its winning formula
What a coup for CH. Peter Harvie is exactly what agencies need today. Age has no bearing on talent anyway. Reliability of management, is of great importance. Plus Peter Harvie has immense ability when it comes to selecting the right talent to make a great agency. He did it before, and his proteges carried it forward. Now, hopefully there will be some sense in finding talent that knows how to sell through words and pictures.
ITT: Lot’s of anonymous wingers less accomplished than Peter Harvie… So you know a better way? I don’t see your name on the door.
I’d have to agree with Adguy, I’ve worked with CHE and variations thereupon throughout my career and they deliver consistently.
I worked under PH for many years when the agency was flying and based in Exhibition street. It was always a buzz, producing excellent work for Australia’s largest retail client, as well as a great stable of blue chip clients. Went back some years later when in St Kilda Rd. Sad. Poor culture, badly managed and total lack of atmosphere. PH will be great for the agency and most importantly, the internal culture.