Gavin McLeod

In January 2013 R/GA opened a Sydney office. Although calling it an office was a bit of a stretch. A tiny room home to four newly minted R/GAers was closer to the truth.

By the time I left, we’d built it up to a 75+ agency, in an impressive new office space, working across a client list that included Telstra, Google, Macquarie, Nike, YouTube APAC, Toyota, Samsung, Coke, Pizza Hut and Twitter. It was immensely satisfying to leave Sydney as one of the fastest growing R/GA offices and the best performing in APAC.

I was fortunate to have two exceptional creative partners in Hamish Stewart and Noel Billig along the way. Together, we built and lead a creative team that won over 40 awards for everything from digital platforms to innovative campaigns. A highlight being “Through the Dark” for Google Play. It was a labour of love that was recognized as such at Cannes, D&AD, One Show and FWA - where it was nominated FWA of the Year and People’s Choice Award – only the third time an entry had won both.

I joined Whybin TBWA because I wanted to push myself as a creative. I'd worked with the CEO, Paul Bradbury, at M&C and knew he was passionate about great work. I also believed the ECDs, Matty Burton and Dave Bowman, would drive something special.

I was responsible for integrated campaigns across TBWA and Eleven PR. I was also asked to launch shopper agency Integer with Georgia Bruton. Within two years Integer had won B&T Emerging Agency of the Year and TBWA had picked up six ‘Agency Of The Year’ titles. Two highlights were being recognised as ‘Creative Agency Of The Year’ at ADMA and AWARD. We also won awards at every major show, including 8 Lions at Cannes and a remarkable 16 awards at Spikes.

A personal highlight was leading the NRMA Insurance account – the agency's biggest. I'm proud of the "Car Creation" campaign we created, NRMA's most effective campaign ever. Some of its many awards include pencils at D&AD and one of only seven effectiveness Lions awarded at Cannes in 2013. Plus, Grande Prix's at Award, Effies and Adfest.

I was recruited as a Senior Art Director to join M&C Saatchi, at the time a 40 person shop. When I left it was the largest agency in Australia with well over 350 staff and had been recognised as the "Agency of the Decade" by The Agency Register.

I had many roles in the 10 years I worked there. Initially I started as a direct creative, but ended up running integrated campaigns for ANZ Bank, Woolworths, NRMA Insurance, Westfield, Optus and the Qantas Frequent Flyer program - some of Australia's largest brands.

In 2006, Dave Whittle and I were asked to start Mark, M&C's digital, direct & data offering. I was appointed Executive Creative Director and within three years we'd built Mark into one of the most consistently awarded agencies in Australia. The Won Report ranked us amongst the Top 10 international creative agencies – with rankings as high as No.3 in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Thanks to this, I was picked by B&T magazine as the Digital Creative Head of their 2010 ‘Agency Dream Team’.

Our success lead to multiple 'Agency Of The Year' titles – 16 in total. Nine of those for Digital or Direct. We also won multiple awards at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clio’s, AdFest and the Caples amongst others. Plus, numerous effectiveness awards at Effies, ADMA and Echos.

As a consequence, I was invited to Chair award juries at AdFest, AWARD and Adma. And, judge at Cannes, Caples and D&AD.