Saatchi & Saatchi Australia has announced the appointment of Mandie van der Merwe and Avish Gordhan as the agency’s new joint Chief Creative Officers. The multi-award winning creative duo, who previously held joint CCO roles at Dentsu Creative, bring with them 20 years of experience and a track record of having their work recognized at major industry award shows.
Publicis Groupe ANZ’s Chief Creative Officer, Dave Bowman, expressed his excitement about their appointment, highlighting their unique skills and creative abilities. He believes that their expertise in storytelling, data, technology, and media will enable them to create innovative and impactful campaigns at the intersection of these areas.
The CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, Patrick Rowe, also shared his enthusiasm for their arrival, emphasizing their understanding of the role of creative thinking in an integrated world. He believes that they will be instrumental in driving change and further enhancing the agency’s creative offering.
Gordhan and van der Merwe have a reputation for establishing environments where creativity not only taps into culture but also ignites it. Their previous work includes iconic campaigns such as Tourism Australia’s ‘MateSong’ and Go Gentle Australia’s ‘Stop the Horror’.
In addition to their creative achievements, both van der Merwe and Gordhan have made significant contributions to the industry. Van der Merwe has served as the national head of AWARD School, guiding the next generation of creative talent in Australia. Gordhan is one of the founders of #OnlyOneInTheRoom, an initiative aimed at promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity in advertising.
Their appointment at Saatchi & Saatchi Australia is seen as a strategic move to bolster the agency’s creative capabilities and drive innovation in the industry.
Sources:
– Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
– Dentsu Creative