Shock for DDB New Zealand as creative directors Adam Kanzer and Kim Ellison both set to depart

DDB is reeling after creative director Adam Kanzer (far left) resigned to return to New York for family reasons after less than a year in the role.

At the same time, long-term DDB Retail creative director Kim Ellison (above) has also resigned, and is about to sign up at a yet unnamed agency. CB understands Ellison is leaving May 28 and her role will be temporarily filled by retail specialist Mark Lorrigan, who left the CD gig at Team Saatchi in January.

In an internal memo to staff, DDB executive creative director Toby Talbot said: “Adam has decided to return to his native New York for personal reasons completely unrelated to the job. We’re sad to see him go. Adam is a talented bloke and a well loved and respected member of our creative department. He has fully embraced the kiwi lifestyle in the short time he has been here by becoming a proficient diver, a not quite so proficient surfer and wearing jandles a lot. I have started to interview potential candidates to replace Adam and hope to be able to announce someone within the next month.

“Kim Ellison has been at DDB for the best part of five years. She has done a sterling job on the Warehouse throughout that time. After five years on the same piece of retail business, I totally understand Kim’s decision to want to move on. Kim may be a rare breed in that she is a female creative director, but to me it’s her huge personality that makes her so unique. Her Tattinger fuelled escapades at SPQR are the stuff of legend. Her strange compulsion to burst into song, on the other hand, I will not miss a bit. We look forward to sending her off in style at the end of the month. As do most of the champagne houses of France.”