DDB SNARES KAREN MAURICE O’LEARY AND VERITY BUTT FROM WHYBIN\TBWA

TBWA\Whybin's award winning Young Guns team will be leaving the agency at the end of January to join DDB.
“Karen and Verity have accepted a position at DDB, and will work for Toby Talbot (Bastard). We wish them well. They have been a fantastic asset to our team here,” says TBWA\Whybin ECD, Andy Blood.
Says DDB Executive Creative Director Toby Talbot: “We’re delighted they’re coming onboard, they’ll fit really well here. Although they’re hugely talented - arguably the most awarded young team in Australasia – they haven’t let early success go to their heads. They’ve remained thoroughly nice, hard working and fun.
“We’ve got a lot of young talent in the DDB creative ranks now, so Karen and Verity are coming onboard at a great time. They’ll get the opportunity to get their teeth into some terrific clients so we’ll be making full use of their talents.”
Karen Maurice O’Leary described the move as “the right opportunity, the right creative director, and the right agency.”
Verity Butt added:"This is a great way to start the New Year. Fresh challenges, new clients and a new creative director. We've had an awesome start to our careers, which has put us in good stead to be ready for new opportunities.”
The duo came to TBWA\Whybin on placement in 2004 after graduating from Auckland’s AXIS Adschool. Their winning streak began the very next day when Verity won an apple G5 at an apple ‘Director’s Day’.
Three years later, they leave with a Cannes Grand Prix, 5 Cannes Lions (3 Gold, 2 Bronze), 1 Titanium shortlist, a D&AD Silver Pencil, 1 Grande Clio, AWARD Silver and Bronzes, a One Show Bronze Pencil and Gold, Silvers and Bronze at Young Guns.
They produced outstanding work across the board for ASB, Firestone, adidas, Sovereign and also for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand.