Ex Naked Strategist Simon Bird appointed to head planning position at Whybin\TBWA
Highly regarded strategist and planner, Simon Bird has departed Naked Communications NZ to take up the head planning role at Whybin\TBWA, Auckland.
Prior to Naked Bird spent time with Saatchi and Saatchi in Sydney conducting all the brand planning on Toyota, where he played an integral part in one of the most awarded campaigns of 2010, Toyota Border Control. In addition, he’s worked for Mojo (on both sides of the Tasman) in senior media and account planning roles.
Says Bird: “Whybin\TBWA has a strong reputation for producing great creative work and I’m really excited to be joining an agency which respects and encourages the disciplines of planning and strategic input.”
Says David Walden, CEO of the Whybin\TBWA Group in NZ: “This is a massive coup for us. Smart thinking and clever ideas have always been a priority for Whybin\TBWA and frankly the best creative ideas invariably stem from a really smart strategy. That’s why we’ve made a commitment to continue to invest in the strategic planning area and appoint Simon to lead this part of our business into the future.
“At Naked he worked on a number of accounts including Fonterra, Southland Building Society, Gravity Coffee and Dairy New Zealand. He’s a great guy, hugely talented and will provide added resource and valuable experience to our existing team of Julie Maciver and Tracey Lee.”
11 Comments
Smart guy. Amazing, there was no mention of this in the earlier news about Naked’s ‘expansion’.
Well done Birdy. Great guy, bloody smart and Naked’s massive loss is TBWA’s gain.
What happened to Tracey Lee?
What a load of crap Devo. I wish it was the case but what you find is that creatives come up with great creative without any insight or anything from planners, then after everyone agrees it’s great suddenly the planner is credited with the magic the creatives came up with. Not aimed at Simon, never worked with him, but Devo, your sweeping statement is bullshit.
Dear me No Way, no offence but you are clearly an idiot. Having been a creative for years, I’m pretty certain that great advertising creative does depend on insights into the market. Unless you understand what you’re doing, you’re actually the one who risks coming up with bullshit.
Nice one Birdie.
Seconded.
Thanks Ned.
You missed the little but important bit that said ‘from planners’. The best creatives do this themselves as a matter of course. Obviously you don’t.
Actually No Way I didn’t miss that bit. My initial comment still stands. I’ve worked with some very clever planners, but obviously you haven’t. Or maybe you have, but were talking when you should have been listening. The ‘best creatives’ are big enough to recognise that other people can make a valuable contribution. Insecure, self absorbed ‘creatives’, sadly don’t.
From a creative who enjoys working with great planners.
Congrats Mr Bird, nice move.
Hasta Luego
Enough already
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