Damon Stapleton to join DDB New Zealand

Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney’s executive creative director Damon Stapleton is set to join DDB New Zealand as chief creative officer after announcingyesterday he was leaving Saatchi’s after two-and-a-half years.

Stapleton has been instrumental to the revival of Saatchi & Saatchi and was behind key Saatchi campaigns suchCadbury’s Joyville campaign, andits recent work on St George Bank.He has also worked on theBig W campaign featuring Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet.

Justin Mowday, CEO DDB New Zealand, said:“He’s such a phenomenal talent and his work extends past epic TV spots and delves into experiential, activation and digital. Damon knows how to produce world-class work that can’t be ignored. He’s going to be a very exciting leader of our creative product.

“We’ve also been on the search for the best possible ECD and have realised he’s already here in Shane, so we’re excited to confirm him as our permanent ECD. Damon and Shane are both modern thinkers and together they will be a true creative force.”

Stapleton will join Shane Bradnick who has been confirmed as permanent executive creative director.

It’s great to be reuniting with Damon. I knew him before we were in advertising, I’ve known him whilst in advertising and if there is life after advertising, I really hope to know him then too. He’s possibly one of the funniest men ever to win a D&AD Black Pencil and I look forward to us doing some great work together,” said Bradnick.

Stapleton will join DDB on July 1 and will work closely with Bradnick across the entire DDB client portfolio.

In a statement Stapleton said: “I am incredibly excited to be asked to lead such a great agency and I am really looking forward to working with Shane again. Together, I know we will make some pretty special secret sauce.”

Saatchi’s is currently looking for Stapleton’s replacement.