DDB takes on top trio in pre-Westpac hiring spree

DDB New Zealand has announced three new staffers.

But this is barely the beginning as the agency still has up to 20 shoes to fill as it staffs up for its recently won Westpac account.

The new appointments are art director Toby Morris, group account director Cath Bosson and planning director Rupert Price.

“We are a large agency with many large clients. We are always looking for the best talent in the market,” DDB managing director Justin Mowday told NBR ONLINE.

Toby Morris joins DDB after seven years overseas and was a former creative at Wieden & Kennedy in Amsterdam, where his campaigns included Nike’s Write the Future.

Mr Morris is also noted for drawing illustrated books. He published, illustrated and distributed his first comic when aged just 13.

He has also worked extensively in the New Zealand music industry, drawing posters and covers for the likes of Conna Mockasin, Liam Finn and Flying Nun records.

Cath Bosson joins DDB as the agency had a vacancy on its McDonald’s team after planning director Thinza Mon left the company to become a mother.

Ms Bosson previously contracted for Saatchi & Saatchi on the Telecom account and is a former group account director for ColensoBBDO in Auckland and senior account director for M&C Saatchi in Sydney.

The trio is rounded out by planning director Rupert Price, who for the past 18 months has been head of planning at Ogilvy New Zealand.

His previous roles include being media planner at Young & Rubicam in London, brand planner at JWT and joint head of planning at Ogilvy London.

Mr Price has won awards including the prestigious Media Week campaign of the year and has worked on many high-profile campaigns, including the Persil Dirt is Good, Dove Campaign for Real Beauty and BP Beyond Petroleum.

Mr Mowday notes such experience included running a department of more than 20 at Ogilvy in London.

“He’s a proper, grown-up English-trained planner,” he said.

Together, the three “superb” appointments are expected to make a mark on the agency that employs 220 people, around double the level of two years ago.

Their appointments are also “pre-Westpac” - a win DDB announced last week.

“Obviously, we are in the market looking for great talent. We are seeking another 10-20 people working on the account, but we are still going through the specifics,” he said.