Dom Hickey to Exit Howatson+Co After Three Years as CSO

Dom Hickey will depart one of Australia’s best independent agencies, Howatson+Co, at the end of April after three years as chief strategy officer.

Dom joined H+Co at the start of 2022, within its first 12 months in business. Now, she will take a career break to decide on her next move.

“Working at Howatson has been an extraordinary experience,” she told LBB. 

“It’s an agency like nowhere else I’ve worked in the industry. Howie has built one of the most impressive indies in Australia with a talent line up that’s unmatched. It’s been an enormous privilege to have been part of the first few years of the agency.

“The past three years have seen transformational growth for both the agency and me professionally. Leaving the agency is a personal decision to take some time to pause. There are no big reveals on the way.”

Chris Howatson, the indie’s founder and CEO, added that “Dom-A-Hawk” has been a disproportionate contributor to H+Co’s culture and clients.

“She cares fiercely about the work, her team, the agency and clients. She’s been a huge part of our agency and while we’re saying farewell for now in her current role, we’re anticipating her return to the agency in some capacity in the future.”

That will likely take the form of freelancing. Before her time at Howatson+Co, Dom spent almost six years at DDB, where she was head of planning. She has also held senior planning roles at Wunderman Thompson and CX Lavender, transitioning into strategy after working in account management at agencies such as Mojo. Dom’s career has frequently involved evolution; she started out as a crime scene photographer for the New South Wales Police Force.

In her first CSO role, Dom built and led Howatson+Co's strategic product, deepened relationships with existing clients, and attracted key new clients. Most recently, LBB revealed Howatson+Co and sister business Plus Also Studios won Myer.

She also helped Howatson+Co achieve major accolades such as Cannes Independent Agency of the Year, become a Contagious Pioneer, and win at the APAC and Australian Effies.

Dom’s notable work during her tenure at the agency includes Domain’s brand platform ‘Know What We Know’ (featuring Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale, and returning last month), ModiBodi’s ‘I’m Dying Inside’, ‘The Great Unsubscribe’ for national broadcaster the ABC, and Matilda Bay’s ‘Second Favourite Beer’.

Yesterday, Howatson+Co unveiled its latest work for UNICEF, transforming cricket appeals into an appeal for gender equality in partnership with Cricket Australia.