Shock for DDB New Zealand as creative directors Adam Kanzer and Kim Ellison both set to depart

DDB New Zealand, CB’s reigning NZ Agency of the Year, is reeling after creative director Adam Kanzer (far left) resigned to return to New York for family reasons after less than a year in the role.

Atthe same time, long-term DDB Retail creative director Kim Ellison (above) hasalso resigned, and is about to sign up at a yet unnamed agency. CBunderstands Ellison is leaving May 28 and her role will be temporarilyfilled by retail specialist Mark Lorrigan, who left the CD gig at Team Saatchi in January.

In an internal memo to staff, DDB New Zealand executive creative director TobyTalbot said: “Adam has decided to return to his native New York forpersonal reasons completely unrelated to the job. We’re sad to see himgo. Adam is a talented bloke and a well loved and respected member ofour creative department. He has fully embraced the kiwi lifestyle inthe short time he has been here by becoming a proficient diver, a notquite so proficient surfer and wearing jandles a lot. I have started tointerview potential candidates to replace Adam and hope to be able toannounce someone within the next month.

“Kim Ellison has been atDDB for the best part of five years. She has done a sterling job on theWarehouse throughout that time. After five years on the same piece ofretail business, I totally understand Kim’s decision to want to moveon. Kim may be a rare breed in that she is a female creative director,but to me it’s her huge personality that makes her so unique. HerTattinger fuelled escapades at SPQR are the stuff of legend. Herstrange compulsion to burst into song, on the other hand, I will notmiss a bit. We look forward to sending her off in style at the end ofthe month. As do most of the champagne houses of France.”