CB Exclusive: O&M New York ECD Antonio Navas lured to ECD gig at Saatchi & Saatchi NZ
CB exclusive: Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand has appointed acclaimed international advertising creative, Antonio Navas, to the role of executive creative director, finally filling the void left by the departure of former ECD Dylan Harrison to DDB Sydney late last year.
Venezuelan-born Navas joins Saatchi & Saatchi from his ECD role at Ogilvy and Mather New York where for the last four years he has worked with clients including Coca Cola, Stolichnaya, Kodak, Motorola, Dove and Puerto Rico Tourism.
Prior to Ogilvy and Mather, he worked at Goodby Silverstein and Partners, Amster Yard, FCB in San Francisco and BBDO New York during the peak of their creative powers. His clients have included major global brands: HP, Haagen Daaz, Levis, Mazda, Pepsi Cola, Polaroid, Stella Artois, Bacardi and Sol Beer.
Navas is renowned for his stunning work and extensive experience in multi-media collaborations. He has collected awards from Cannes, Art Directors Club, London International Awards, CA, AICP, AAF and CLIO.
Last year, Navas achieved global acclaim with the video of the theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Waka Waka: This Time for Africa, performed by Shakira. The video remains the third most viewed YouTube video of all time, with over 327,388,000 hits.
Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand CEO, Nicky Bell, said Navas’ appointment is the result of a lengthy national and international search to select the right person to fill the role: “Antonio understands how creative thinking can change businesses and brands and has proven this across different cultures. And he is a genuine catalyst in a creative environment.
“Having experienced this first hand while working together in New York, I really admire the way he does this. And, quite frankly, he’s one of the good guys. I’m really excited he’s bringing that talent to Saatchi & Saatchi and the New Zealand creative community,” she said.
Industry heavyweight, Steve Simpson, Chief Creative Officer, North America at Ogilvy & Mather (Antonio’s former creative partner at Goodby Silverstein & Partners), commented:
“Antonio is one of the wonderful talents of our business. He has an unerring eye (a good thing in an art director) and unfailing taste (a better thing in a creative director), and has produced some of the most memorable work for some of the world’s most famous brands. He has counted among his friends people like Richard Avedon, Elliott Erwitt, Nadav Kander and has worked with Andreas Gursky and Annie Liebowitz.
“He has been an outstanding mentor to up and coming talent. He loves his craft, knows brands and is able to carry art into commerce. He is also, quite possibly, the single most considerate person I have met in advertising.”
Steve Hayden, vice chairman, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, also commented: “Antonio is one of those rare talents who combines a superb sense of design with a strategic understanding of brands. He brings out the best in everyone around him. During his time at Ogilvy, he improved everything he touched. I can’t wait to see what he does in New Zealand.”
Says Navas: “I have always admired the work that has come out of New Zealand. It’s often a little ‘out there’ and feels like it could only come from people that live life with intense optimism and a fresh perspective.
“I’ve particularly admired Saatchi & Saatchi’s New Zealand creative reputation from afar, so I’m excited to be part of its next incarnation. I’m also happy to be reunited with Nicky as I think we created some incredible work together in New York. The agency team I’ve met feels strong, healthy and dynamic. We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
Navas starts in early May and will relocate to Auckland with his fiancée.
28 Comments
Sounds promising.
Not much of an exclusive if Fastine emails it 5 mins later.
2.38, the others had it more than one hour later….
http://antonionavas.net/
Thanks for the link. Nuthin’ much to worry about.
Saw it on NBR before lunch.
How long till Navas packs up for a Sydney gig?
Is anyone going to start a pool on how long he lasts?
8.28, only issue is Anonymous would win. Who gets that payout?
Can everyone please make an orderly line for the few remaining Saatchi clients.
Seriously, why not just save the cash and get a good Head of Art?
Oh. Right. You have. Ah well, at least he’s done a few nice design systems…
He’s a great guy. What an awesome coup, and a very interesting move.
Welcome!
If the Auckland/Sydney time difference was 30 years Navas would get a job no problem.
He’s a great guy, make him welcome.
Good call Andy.
Its the creatives that have nothing better to do than sit on the blogs and belittle everyone else in the hope that it will make them better people.
Come on guys grow up. Work on making your creative better instead.
Andy, we’re not debating whether he’s agreat guy or not – I’ve never sat down in a bar and drank with him, but I assume he’s ok.
What we’re debating is the quality of the work.
I think his work is great if you’re a design company, not so if you’re the agency that used to be the most highly awarded in the country.
Saatchis/Kevin/Nicky/Rowden had the best part of a year to find a replacement. In the end, comfort over quality reigned supreme.
Looking forward to the next pitch.
Andy’s right – this guy’s great, welcome to NZ Antonio, looking forward to seeing what you do here!
What do Saatchi & Saatchi have against New Zealanders? For a company who once did some of the most iconic New Zealand advertising, it seems they’ve now turned against their own and are listening to head office in NY.
Why do they keep hiring foreigners ………….. surely they need someone who understands the NZ psyche and NZ marketers???
Andy, would you hire an ECD who had never won even a Bronze Lion at Cannes? I didn’t think so.
Hey Jim, WTF has Saatchi & Saatchi got to do with it? Why in hell is there a pom at the head of every major agency in town? Thank F&$K we don’t have another one!
I just checked the top 10 list for creative in NZ and I don’t see a ‘Jim’ any where….
Jim maybe you should concentrate on your book rather than bagging what looks to be like some serious grown up talent joining our community
Good talent, is good talent, no matter where you are from
I say welcome.
Really interesting hiring, can’t wait to see what they do to the place. At least he’s a tried and tested ECD in a large market. Unlike the last one. And Nicky Bell has already worked with this guy. Saatchi’s know what they’re doing.
Now they’ve got a really good art director, now all the need is a senior copywriter and an ECD. Then the relaunch will be ready. At least the invites will look good.
Ha… just read 6.03’s comment. One minute saying the last CD wasn’t quite up to the mark, then says Saatchi know what the’re doing. Hmmm, confused. You must work for Saatchis. Probably a suit. Or in production.
‘Waka Waka’ is one of the most viewed YouTube clips of all time. Watch out Rebecca Black.
http://youtu.be/CD2LRROpph0
8.54 – or should I say James? Welcome back. It’s been a while. Been working long hours, have you?
I enjoyed that rant. how many ECD’s, CD’s, AD’s does it take to create an idea..!! then send it back to head office in another part of the world..! then see it through to production..!
How long is the government. sorry, Saatchi giving his working visa in NZ for..?? just curious..! as I’m an NZ citizen hungry to work.
9.08, You haven’t been in the industry that long have you? Antonio’s clearly an experienced ecd and talented art director, having worked up through the ranks of some leading US agencies. He’s probably too experienced for this tiny market. Dylan Harrison had never even been ecd before, he was a group head at DDB London. Why not drop your book off at Saatchi and see what Antonio makes of your mail drops? And people have to ask why the top agencies have to import their talent?? Welcome Antonio and good luck!
Bring it s and s
Nice to have you in the bull ring again
Great guy and so creative and so good to hear you have a fiancee to take you to this new chapter of your life.