CAANZ appoints Brian van Den Hurk, Michael Redwood and Andrew Hawley to executive board

CAANZ has today announced that Brian van Den Hurk (left), CEO, FCB New Zealand; Michael Redwood (centre), managing partner, Special Group and Andrew Hawley (right), founder and managing director Touchcast Wellington have been elected to the CAANZ executive board.

As a result of Andrew Holt and Derek Lindsay stepping down along with the board’s desire for additional independent agency representation, three vacancies were up for election recently.

Says Paul Head, CEO, CAANZ: “I’m thrilled that Brian, Michael and Andrew have been elected to the Board by our members. All three have skills and experience that will make invaluable contributions to the industry. The CAANZ team and I are looking forward to working with them on the challenges our members face.”

van Den Hurk is the CEO of FCB New Zealand, one of the country’s largest, fully integrated advertising, marketing and communications agencies. van Den Hurk spent several years with international agencies in Auckland and Wellington before establishing a FCB office in Indonesia and subsequently joining FCB Auckland. During the 21 years van Den Hurk has been with FCB New Zealand, the agency has grown from just 25 staff to the current 220.

His passion for effective communications has been recognised with FCB being awarded over 10 Gold at the New Zealand Effie Awards, including most effective and Best in Show plus the internationally coveted IPA Gold Effectiveness Award, for campaigns Brian has actively managed. In the last 2 years, FCB has brought home 18 Cannes Lions including four gold.

Redwood is the managing partner of Special Group New Zealand. Redwood became a partner and shareholder at newly minted Special Group in 2009. Since then, he has helped drive the agency’s growth, establishing it as a multi-awarded design and advertising business with offices in Auckland and Sydney .

Prior to Special, Redwood enjoyed nearly 20 years working at some of New Zealand’s leading advertising agencies with New Zealand’s leading clients. At Colenso BBDO he ran the Air New Zealand account across all Clemenger Group agencies for six years, and led the successful global pitch for Fonterra Brands. Redwood has had campaigns recognised at the Effie awards every year for the past 11 years and was part of the team that was awarded the Cannes Grand Prix in 2010.

As founder and managing director of Touchcast, Hawley drives the company’s overall strategic direction and works with clients in both a strategic and creative capacity on key projects. From founding his first digital agency, Breathe, in 1999, to the establishment and rapid growth of Touchcast, Hawley has always been passionate about creating exceptional human experiences. Having been at the forefront of digital and experiential for over 15 years, Hawley knows there are only two constants in the communications industry; change itself, and nurturing long-term, sustainable client partnerships.

Hawley’s work has featured at the RSVP and NZDM Awards in New Zealand, the Caples Awards in New York, at Cannes, the Future Marketing Awards for Asia Pacific Region, and the Best Design Awards in New Zealand. Andrew has been on the digital jury of the Clio awards in Miami, and has judged the Axis and Effie Awards in New Zealand several times. Most recently Hawley’s agency Touchcast was ranked 6th fastest growing company in New Zealand, and 46th fastest growing tech company in Asia Pacific.