TBWA\Tequila\ appoints former Saatchi’s creative team James and Farndale as creative directors

After several months on a freelance basis, former Saatchi creative team Connan James (far left) and Craig Farndale (left) have been appointed creative directors of TBWA\Tequila\, Auckland.

The team have a wealth of experience gleaned from most of the major agencies in the country. In fact, both worked for TBWA\Tequila\ more than a decade ago on clients such as adidas, PlayStation and Nissan, all of which are still with the agency.

“They’re great guys and I’m really pleased with how quickly they’vesettled back into things: a ‘C&C Magic Factory’ sign has appearedmysteriously above their door and cool things are already happening interms of the work they’re doing and the culture they’re fosteringwithin the creative department,” says Andy Blood, executive creative director at the TBWA\ group of companies.

“And as Devo proclaimed loudly at a celebratory lunch he had with themthe other week, this is a twice in a lifetime opportunity, so we’reabsolutely thrilled to have them back again,” he adds.

“We’re really pleased to be back at TBWA\ – it’s just as crazy anddisruptive as it ever was but it feels right, and we’re both excitedabout the prospect of doing some great work with Andy and the rest ofthe guys,” says James.

Over his career, James has worked as a creative director at twoagencies and been creatively responsible for some of the largestaccounts in the country, including Tourism New Zealand, ANZ andTelecom. Similarly, Farndale has worked at DDB, Young & Rubicam, M&CSaatchi and, most recently, Saatchi and Saatchi.

Between them, they’ve picked up a swag of awards including Gold atClio, Silver and Bronze at Cannes and a multitude of others, as well asGold, Silver and Bronzes at the EFFIEs.