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.