Havas Sydney has today announced the appointment
of Ant Melder (left) as joint executive creative director alongside
Seamus Higgins (right). Following an extensive search for the right fit
to match Havas and Seamus' creative ambitions, the move will reunite a
creative duo who first worked together more than ten years ago in
London.
Melder will replace the incumbent joint executive creative director Stuart Turner,
who is leaving the agency after four years to join DDB Melbourne.
Melder commences his new role at Havas following his tenure as creative
partner at DDB Sydney, heading up creative for major clients including
Expedia, Wrigley and Streets.
Melder has built an impressive portfolio with more than 20
years
experience as a creative director and copywriter in both his native UK
and Australia. His work has been recognised internationally with more
than 50 awards at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, AWARDs and Spikes Asia.
Melder has established himself as a sought-after creative leader through
notable work such as the 'Game of Balls' campaign for the Blue Balls
Foundation.
Says Higgins: "Since taking the reins with Stu over a year ago, it's
been great fun getting the creative fires burning at Havas again. I
thank him personally for all of his passion and I know he'll kill it in
Melbourne. Now it's all about increasing that momentum. Our goal is to
make our clients and ourselves famous around the world for truly
innovative thinking, and I am incredibly excited to work with someone as
dynamic and hungry as Ant to continue on that mission. We're just
getting started."
Says Melder: "It was a bittersweet decision
to leave a brilliant agency that's absolutely on fire but I simply
couldn't turn this down. I'm passionate about the intersection of
creativity, technology and culture and that's exactly where Havas are
playing. It's one of the most forward-thinking, innovative agencies in
the region, so the opportunity to be an integral part of it, working
with Seamus and the wider Havas Village team, was irresistible."
Says Anthony
Gregorio, group CEO, Havas Australia: "Ant will be a great fit
for our business, particularly with that name. Our joint ECD structure
has been one of the key reasons for our success and in driving our pace
of change. Ant's passion for collaboration and his innovative,
entrepreneurial spirit, are exactly what we need more of as we continue
to push ourselves and the Havas agency further."