Y&R Group invests in Brisbane with 21 new staff and launch of Ideaworks; Phil McDonald transfers from Sydney to group managing director role
On the back of one of its most successful years in the Queensland market, GPY&R has employed 21 new staff across the creative, digital and account management departments and transferred Sydney MD Phil McDonald to Brisbane as Y&R group managing director.
The group will also launch its specialist retail agency, Ideaworks, in Brisbane.
McDonald (left) has overseen a 2.5 year turn around at GPY&R Sydney, seeing it win a raft of new business including Emirates, Revlon, and several NSW Government pitches.
Working alongside agency ECD Julian Watt, he has also helped engineer a creative resurgence at the agency, with the agency winning a slew of global creative awards last year, including Australia’s only Press Lion at the 2011 Cannes Advertising Festival.
GPY&R Brisbane won the coveted Tatts Lotteries business in November last year in a nationally contested creative pitch. The major win has seen the agency grow dramatically in the last 3 months. The Tatts Lotteries account was previously shared by Publicis Mojo Brisbane and Ogilvy Sydney.
Says McDonald: “We see Queensland as a growth market and this unprecedented investment in talent shows we are serious. For me it’s a great opportunity to head back to Queensland after 2.5 great years working closely with Russel and Julian in Sydney. I have no doubt we are set for more greatness in Sydney in the near future.”
On the changes Y&R ANZ CEO, Russel Howcroft said: “Phil has tremendous advertising management and leadership skills. He came to Sydney when our office needed these capabilities and this time in Sydney has further honed Phil’s executive credentials. We are now asking Phil to grow our Group of businesses in the Queensland market.”
The investment includes the launch of Ideaworks, which already has a number of clients in the Brisbane market, but services them mostly out of Sydney. The agency will now have upwards of 6 full time senior staff on the ground in Brisbane, including sales promotion specialists, creative, strategy and account management and McDonald expects this number to grow quickly.
McDonald added: “We will be aggressively growing the Ideaworks brand this year. There are a surprising number of national retail brands based in Brisbane and the specialisation that Ideaworks brings is unique in the marketplace.”
Mike Harris continues as the Brisbane MD of GPY&R, reporting to McDonald with a new GM of Ideaworks Brisbane to be announced next month.
McDonald continued: “Our existing senior talent has proven, via its unmatched new business and creative success, that they are top class. That coupled with the specialist retail, sales promotion and shopper marketing skills of Ideaworks means our clients have access to an even more diverse, specialist skill set.”
The Y&R Group in Queensland consists of GPY&R, Ideaworks, Brand Asset Consulting and Blaze Advertising.
McDonald’s replacement in Sydney is to be announced shortly.
9 Comments
Slew my ass. Plus the Press Lion belongs in Melbourne.
Could someone fill us in on all these awards the Sydney office has won in the last year… please.
Sure.
Cannes Silver: Wagon Wheels – Sydney.
Slew: D&AD, One Show, Clios, Cannes.
Good work and good luck Phil.
Sure.
Cannes, D&AD, Clios, One Show.
Well done Phil and best for Brisbane.
JJW
Wow. The agency seems pretty full of its own self importance. Sydney has hardly been a success for Patts over the last couple of years. Holding its own at best.
We’re gonna need a bigger shop boys and girls.
I vote somewhere near the river.
The Lion belongs in Sydney.
Sydney client and writer of which there were several. One transferred to Melbourne later but definitely not a Melbourne credit.
Oh man!!!!…now who’s gonna sit with me, drink rum and gloat in the Mundy’s Maroons stand at State of Origin? Well done Philly, enjoy the XXXX!
Triumphant hometown hero returns!