Sydney indie, Apparent, has appointed creative heavyweight, David Jackson, as executive creative director. Jackson will partner with chief creative and experience officer, Hamish Stewart, to oversee the agency’s creative department.

Jackson arrives at Apparent with a track record of crafting culture-shaping campaigns, and a hybrid creative skillset that spans digital, experiential, and brand storytelling. He has held senior creative leadership roles at M&C Saatchi, DDB, and most recently served as national executive creative director at Tribal Worldwide, leading high-profile work for global and local brands including Volkswagen, Quiksilver, Westpac, Foxtel, Virgin, and McDonald’s. 

His campaigns have earned multiple Cannes Lions, including Gold for Foxtel’s Grave of Thrones and VW Golf Adbreak Championships, and multiple Lions this year for Volkswagen’s RooBadge innovation. He has built a reputation for pushing boundaries and delivering work that truly connects with people and culture, with a blend of creative leadership and hands-on craft that makes him a natural fit for Apparent’s ambitions.

Stewart stated, “The most effective ideas today are born where brand, experience, and comms collide. David brings the kind of creative leadership that thrives where each collides. He’ll help us push our thinking and deliver work that not only captures attention, but drives real, measurable outcomes for our clients. With recent key appointments across visual design, experience design, and creative, I’m inspired by the creative leadership we have in place.”

Jackson added, “I’m thrilled to be joining Apparent at such an exciting moment in the agency’s growth. What drew me to Apparent is their restless ambition to build on an already successful foundation. There’s something compelling in the understated confidence this independent agency embodies. They walk the walk, not just talk the talk. It’s awesome to be working with Hamish again, too – one of the nicest blokes in the industry. We’re both driven to redefine how brands connect with people by weaving together experience, stories, and culture. I can’t wait to work alongside him and the hugely talented team to do that for our current and future clients. Game on.”

Cover image l-r: David Jackson & Hamish Stewart