GLOBAL – March 5, 2014 – DDB continues to strengthen its digital offering, bringing home one of New Zealand’s best digital expats, Haydn Kerr, and appointing him as its new digital creative director.
Joining the team of over 20 digital specialists at DDB Group, Haydn established his reputation as a digital champion after more than 11 years’ experience working at some of the world’s leading agencies – most recently at the world’s most awarded digital agency AKQA in Europe, and previously RKCR Y&R, The Mill and DraftFCB London.
During his time as Associate Creative Director at AKQA, Haydn was the creative lead for Nike Central and Eastern Europe and worked across Nike Global, Nike football, Western Europe and Japan.
Haydn said, “It’s a very interesting time to come back to New Zealand. Television audiences are starting to fall and clients are wanting to invest in big digital ideas. Creatives are hungry to produce world-class digital work.
“But, as far as I can see, no agency has truly claimed the digital mantle. I’d like to see more work that goes beyond digital stunts and begins to transform the way the brands relate to their audience, adding real value to people’s lives.
“DDB is well-placed with heavyweight clients, a strong digital hub, as well as our traditional strengths in planning and story-telling. I’m really excited about my future here,” said Kerr.
Justin Mowday, CEO DDB New Zealand, said, “Haydn is an exciting hire and an absolute asset to the DDB team. His ideas are big and strategic, his experience invaluable and he gets brands.
“Digital is a part of every campaign we now develop, often right at the heart and with the entire agency already managing websites, mobile platforms, app developments and managing over a dozen social media communities, it’s a perfect time to add a world-class digital expert to our team,” Justin added.
Haydn will work across the entire DDB client portfolio including Lion, The Warehouse, Westpac, SKY, Lotto NZ, BMW and Mini.
