It was announced last week that McCann has hired two new global executive creative directors in the shape of James Dawson-Hollis and Bill Wright, both of whom join McCann's New York office from Ogilvy West in Los Angeles, where they were co-chief creative officers on accounts such as HTC, Nesquik and Qualcomm. O&M LA effectively shut down its advertising operations earlier this year following a string of client losses and large spending reductions from some of its largest marketers. The idea behind the new appointments is to strengthen the leadership team under McCann's global creative chairman Rob Reilly, who himself joined McCann from Crispin Porter + Bogusky earlier this year. Wright and Dawson-Hollis have both worked under Reilly at CP&B, so the move is something of a reunion for the trio.
The idea behind the new appointments is to strengthen the leadership team under McCann's global creative chairman Rob Reilly
Prior to joining Ogilvy, Wright was integral in transforming CP&B from a small Miami agency into one of the most talked-about advertising agencies in the world. In his time there, he worked on accounts for notable clients such as Burger King, IKEA, Coke Zero, Virgin Atlantic and MINI Cooper. In his BP&B days meanwhile, Dawson-Hollis oversaw the creative work for Burger King in the US, the UK and Spain, and worked on campaigns for Sprite, Coke Zero and Slim Jim. Together him and Wright also co-ran all of CP&B's business for Kraft, and helped discover Ted Williams, the “Homeless man with the golden voice” who became the famous, official voice of Kraft Mac & Cheese.
James Dawson-Hollis, Rob Reilly and Bill Wright
Wright and Dawson-Hollis released a joint statement, in which they called to opportunity to join their former boss at McCann was “Too good to pass up.” They said Reilly told them that their chief job at McCann will be to help Reilly “Make creativity permeate every part of the agency and its clients, everywhere around the world.” They called this “An amazing brief,” and say they look forward to working with Reilly once again and making this brief a reality.
Dawson-Hollis and Wright's primary job at McCann will be to “Make creativity permeate every part of the agency and its clients, everywhere around the world.”
Reilly, meanwhile, says that McCann look after a number of “Global brands that are asking for breakthrough work,” and that when it comes to creating this breakthrough work, “Talent and being fearless is the only way to get there.” He adds that Wright, Dawson-Hollis and himself, “Share some of the same battle scars,” so it goes without saying that “Their problem-solving ability across all types of brands and disciplines,” is something he values greatly.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK who had never heard the story of Ted Williams before this morning, but it really warmed his heart, which he really needed given that it's a Monday!
