Wish list creative directors, Christie Cooper and James Conner, have joined The Monkeys Aotearoa from DDB Aotearoa in a recruitment drive that includes another six new creatives. In Australia, The Monkeys has just added ten new creatives.

Cooper and Conner first teamed up in 2008, and have worked at Colenso BBDO and DDB Aotearoa. Their awarded campaigns award-winning campaigns have helped to open New Zealand’s first shelter for pets affected by domestic violence, pulled off a Reverse April Fools for BMW, combined New Zealand and Japan for Tokyo Dry, and broadcast the first-ever live free-diving event from 102 meters underwater for Steinlager Pure.

They are joined at The Monkeys by senior copywriter, Simone Loui,s and senior art director, Emily Osbourne. These creatives first worked together at TBWA where they made a typeface for Melanoma NZ and told the story of a woman looking for the one, for Bumble. Between them, they have also worked at top agencies such as The Monkeys Sydney, Colenso BBDO and DDB Aotearoa.

Junior copywriter, Arron Sharma, and junior art director, Susannah O’hUadhaigh, senior designer, Lucinda Fortescue-Hansen, and new head of integrated production, Rosie Grayson, round out the eight hires.

Fortescue-Hansen is returning home to New Zealand after six years abroad, where she has worked at The Monkeys Sydney and in London, on brands such as Telstra, NRMA Insurance, Blackmores, Berlei, P&O Cruises, New Zealand Red Cross and TVNZ. She is passionate about the environment and how designers can integrate sustainability into every project.

Grayson brings fifteen years production experience at Mojo, DDB Aotearoa and adam&eve in the UK, where she worked on multimillion-pound global campaigns for EA Sports, John Lewis, VW, International Red Cross and more.

The Monkeys Aotearoa chief creative officer, Damon Stapleton, stated,  “I am incredibly proud to welcome these fine people to The Monkeys Aotearoa. I know how talented they are and the brilliant kind of work they can create. Add to that the ingredients of kindness, dedication and fun, and I think we have a winning recipe.”