Nine years after quietly entering the Philippine advertising scene, Richard Irvine, chief creative officer of Leo Burnett Manila, is set to leave it. But after ascending to The Creative Guild’s Hall of Fame, doing it unnoticed is going to be tough.
Irvine has been named creative head at Beacon Communications in Japan, Leo Burnett’s second biggest agency worldwide after Chicago.
The move to Beacon follows Irvine’s successful steerage of the agency’s upward climb in creative rankings and reputation.
One of the most accomplished creative leaders in the Leo Burnett network, he has served the network with in London, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh. Until recently, he was overseeing the total creative output of Leo Burnett’s three operations in Manila—blackpencil, Arc Worldwide and Leo Burnett. Last year, the Creative Guild of the Philippines elevated him to the Creative Guild Hall of Fame, the first foreigner to be so honored.
“I leave Manila with a heavy heart having somehow embraced much of its rich, dynamic and diverse culture, but I am delighted to leave behind some of the finest creative talent in the country working in Leo Burnett Manila,” Irvine said.
While claiming Irvine to be a hard act to follow, Raymond Arrastia, Leo Burnett Manila Managing Director, confirmed that the highly respected Raoul Panes, executive creative director, will lead the agency’s creative community and continue the agency’s creative charge.
Arrastia also announced the return of its multi-awarded homegrown creative team, Mike and Sheila de la Cuesta, to the agency after a four-year stint in Leo Burnett Singapore. Highly respected within both the Singapore and Philippine advertising communities, the De la Cuestas produced effective award-winning work for some of the world’s biggest brands. Mike and Sheila are credited for the phenomenal “Karen” TVC of McDonald’s, which won for Leo Burnett Manila the Philippines’ first gold in the ADFEST.
