A blog for the New Zealand creative advertising industry, now at www.campaignbrief.com/nz. Email news to: michael@campaignbrief.com

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

CATMUR DEPARTS DDB FOR REGIONAL ECD ROLE AT Y&R


After seven years with DDB, Executive Creative Director Paul Catmur is leaving the agency to take up the regional ECD role at Young & Rubicam, still based in Auckland. In his new job, effective January, he will head the creative department of George Patterson Y&R Melbourne as well as becoming a partner in the New Zealand business. Catmur will also join the global Y&R board.
Y&R Brands CEO Matt McGrath said that Catmur's appointment was an outstanding coup for the agency: "Paul has a brilliant track record, both in terms of his own personal award haul and for the work created by the teams at DDB under his leadership. He has enormous respect from the industry, having judged at Cannes, Clios, 4As and most recently the convenor of judges for both AWARD and Caxtons.
Says Catmur: "GPY&R Melbourne has got to be producing some of the best creative in the world. They were Agency of the Year at AWARD, but I believe their potential has only just been tapped. And I'm really looking forward to working with Jon Ramage who has built a great business and team in NZ."
Chairman and CEO of DDB New Zealand and Australia Marty O’Halloran commented: “We’ve been working with Paul for more than a year now to explore a broader remit for him within the DDB network. Eighteen months ago, Paul was promoted to Asia Pacific Executive Creative Director which gave the DDB network access to his talents.
“However, after a relatively long time with one agency, especially in creative terms, Paul needed a new challenge.
“Pragmatically, we’ve anticipated the reality of this happening. Paul has delivered a great creative team and product for DDB and he leaves behind an agency in very good shape. We wish him well in his new role with Y&R, but obviously not too well!”
Paul begins a long-planned two month sabbatical on Friday to write a film script, before starting his new role as Executive Creative Director Australia New Zealand for Y & R.
New Zealand based Group Managing Director of DDB, Sharon Henderson commented “Naturally it’s disappointing, but not unexpected. Seven years is a long time for this industry. Right now, we’re moving on with making another great appointment for DDB.”
Discussions are already underway and an appointment announcement is expected in the near future.

22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whoah. Huge news.

Hey, does that mean you will put that great picture of Catmur up on here again?

Can't wait.

11:49 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice one Paul. I know you don't read this blog, but if you're based in Australia, could I please have a key to your bach?

11:56 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good on him. Best thing that could happen to Y&R.

12:15 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No comment. Yet.

1:57 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Y&R's press release contained two US spellcheck errors and blatant apostrophe abuse.

Catmur will soon sort that out.

2:19 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had never noticed before what a serious lollypop head the man has.

2:56 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey mate... if you keep editing all the nasty comments you get on this one, you can clean forget about putting any postings in here because that's the majority of you'll get.

4:36 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's going on with the head to torso ratio in that picture?

9:00 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Darryl,

You missed the DB7. He can finally afford the DB9.

10:05 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, huge news indeed.

11:12 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is it me or has Catmurs head got larger and decidely Thunderbird looking. Clearly the happy meal giveaway has had an visual effect on its CD. That or someone has done a very cruel Photoshop job.

11:38 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So do you think they'll give the gig to Nigel Corbett downstairs? I mean, he's already CD of WRC and Mango PR!

4:00 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whahey - he's brought back the 'big head' PR shot and ditched the 'pink shirt' PR shot.

5:31 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Big head comments are Route 1 guys. Fire yourselves.

10:58 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you tilt your computer to the left, does his head suddenly change sides?

2:17 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

4:36 PM you are an utter marnis.

8:54 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're a manus.

10:51 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He looks like a character out of 'Parappa the rapper'.

1:04 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

your an Marnis

4:11 pm NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All you guys are weird! To heck with the photo. What about his talent and people skills as a CD. Does he have it or not? Y&R can't seem to keep talent, and to top that off, they are totally fickle. How long will Paul last?

5:44 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. overall i think he will do well.

2. he will lift the standard.

3. will give them a stronger creative direction- they need some.

4. If i was working at y & r i would be excited about the future.

Leanmeanfightingmachine

9:58 am NZDT

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

5.44 are you describing Paul or Y & R?

11:10 am NZDT

 

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