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

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

WRC APPOINTS PETTENGELL AS CD


WRC has appointed ex Saatchi creative Steve Pettengell as its new Creative Director, replacing Nigel Corbett, who left on March 23 to take a shareholding in boutique independent Sugar.
British-born Pettengell has spent the past two and a half years at Saatchi & Saatchi as a creative troubleshooter.
WRC Managing Director Murray Reid says the two-month search for a CD who thinks outside the square has been extensive and rigorous: “The WRC model is unconventional in creative terms – it’s all about using multi-discipline thinking across all channels, integration on every level – and that’s a real challenge for most creatives.
“Steve is a great fit. He relishes the strategy and problem solving part of client work – and with terrific experience in New Zealand, the UK and the US in branding, digital, direct marketing and advertising disciplines – he’ll lead our creative thinking.”
His New Zealand client experience spans extensive work for Telecom together with campaigns for TV One, Lexus, Toyota, Holden, Simpson Grierson, Capital+Merchant and Heineken.
Pettengell says: “I’ve never seen a CD role that fits my belief in multi-disciplinary and integrated work, until this one came along at WRC. I’m excited by this melding of disciplines with an agency that defies conventional advertising thinking. True integration is something I’m passionate about.
“Of course, the prospect of working again collaboratively with DDB’s Executive Creative Director Toby Talbot, with whom I worked closely at Saatchi & Saatchi is another great reason to join WRC.”
“Steve is a real maverick”, says Talbot. “This industry is full of Jack-of-all-trade-master-of-none creatives. Steve really is good at everything. Apart from shaving, that is.”
Prior to his time at Saatchi & Saatchi, he worked for Meares Taine, which followed London-based work for British Telecom. Steve earlier spent four years in New Zealand in the mid-1990’s as Creative Group Head at Terabyte during its heyday in the early digital era.
He has also worked as Creative Group Head at the acclaimed design house, Meta Design in San Francisco with clients including Intel and Sun Microsystems together with Nike.
Starting on May 21, Pettengell’s role at WRC will also include working as Creative Director to sister company Mango Communications, the only public relations agency in the country with its own CD.

35 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck over there Steve. We'll miss you over here.

1:41 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All the way back to seat no. 1 Mr P!

3:09 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Creative troubleshooter" - can someone please explain?

3:27 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If a Creative causes trouble he shoots them?

6:03 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

who is the hot woman on his arm?

7:36 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He looks pretty happy!

10:01 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Talk about walk into a burning fire. No Steve turn around.

11:18 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope you can keep the clients longer than WRC can keep staff. What accounts do they have left over there?

8:44 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"... client experience spans extensive work for Telecom ... London-based work for British Telecom."

Hmmm. Call me cynical, but the chance of getting on the Telecom pitch list probably drove this appointment more than any real ability.

And if DDB group agencies don't win Telecom, I wonder how long Mr P will last?

Anyway, good press release. Bit less heavy breathing and breathless excitement with this one.

8:44 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice one, Figgus. Flick me a few briefs when you get the chance.

FB

11:48 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dice one Petting-zoo

BP

2:11 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mango ? part of DDB? maybe thats why they lost Vodaphone

6:35 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Makes a change for someone to be joining WRC - I wonder how they calculate the 'danger money' factor in his package?

6:39 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good one Mr P., when u log onto Nigels old computer you will have to update the home page, u will not need www.101ideas4free.com Cheers !

6:45 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Given that WRC has had 7 MD's in 5 years, Mr P will be the MD b4 Xmas.

8:34 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How hard is it to be a CD of 3 creatives with no work?

1:10 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr P you will be alright, you're young & good looking, but your time in the sun will be short if your not a good boy.

10:17 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1:10 it might be about to get easier because 2 of the creatives are currently looking for jobs

1:50 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The 1st idea off the rank went down like a pork chop at a jewish bbq. Client not impressed.
Also anyone else heard that GE Money has asked where exit is....

5:18 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its got that bad that the staff are forming a "bring back Mitch" club - no surely not!

5:21 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone told the clients the length of Mr P's contract - story doing the rounds is its VERY short.

5:23 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

GE Money destroys lives. Honest.

8:54 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Even the picture on the first page of their website wrc.co.nz sayes it all. Why did I come and work here?

12:19 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck Steve, I think you will be a great addition to WRC.

Leighton.

2:48 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thx 12:19. Just checked out the website - holy shit the recent client survey must be a joke they were there when I did my 'time' @ wrc (working with Andrew Mitchel was sort of a mix between community service & periodic detention, if you have worked there you will know what I mean) 2 of the 'client' quotes are 3+ years old & the major awards 4+ yrs.I wonder when they last got a brief from some of the clients listed. Still the events chick is a cutie - worth visiting the site for a peek.

8:30 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just like you were Leighton.....

8:31 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Easy on Leighton, he's the only creative to leave wrc, come back & then leave.He deserves a medal or a brain transplant.

3:17 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More importantly, the photo of the guy in the cap and sunnies getting something from the promo person is my old English teacher.

10:05 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

2.30pm I get the feeling that you work at WRC too, who else would care about an agency that was.

Either you're the only one left in management and this is how you talk to staff but I don't see how using the words " you're obviously are a piece of shit fuckbread " helps. Come on how else are you going to get a job now coming from WRC.

In other words grow up.

1:30 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1.30 - I don't work there. And learn to use punctuation shibait.

4:31 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi 1:30 - u r correct there is only one left in management & they do not have the tools in the tool box to re build it . So best to dust the CV's off b4 its sucked into Shaz's new baby 'Rapp Collins Thing & Thing'.

6:50 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Q -If WRC has a PR arm (Mango) how come they are coping so much crap.
A - Is it that Shazza wants WRC to fail ? If Mango is any good it should spend some time on its own brand, if they are allowed !!

8:31 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hear the MD has been given the big talking too.

8:23 am NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It would have to be big to watch the ego !!!! Serious 'its all about me' merchant.

5:48 pm NZST

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No worries about ego's - no one left at WRC has one - thats why they are still there !!!

5:54 pm NZST

 

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