Wesley Hawes has become executive creative director of Innocean Australia. Hawes was previously executive creative director of CHE Proximity Sydney, where he grew the creative department in numbers and capability and led key clients including NRMA Insurance, Samsung, eBay and IKEA. Hawes left CHEP in September after just nineteen months.

He arrives at Innocean with more than twenty years agency experience as a copywriter and creative director. In Australia, he has worked at Marcel Sydney as  deputy ECD and then executive creative director (2017-9) and TBWA\Sydney as joint executive creative director (2014-6).  In London from 2011 – 2014, he worked at BBH, where he rose to become partner and creative director on the global Axe/Lynx and Mentos/Vigorsol accounts – the most creatively awarded brands in the agency at the time.

Hawes is well known for nurturing creative talent and building thriving creative cultures throughout his career.

Innocean chief executive officer, Jasmin Bedirsaid, stated, “Wez has an incredible pedigree as a creative director in some of the world’s top agencies and creating work for some of the world’s best known brands. We are so thrilled to have him join our team at Innocean where he can nurture creativity that’s grounded in a multichannel and integrated approach.

“We are undergoing a transformation at Innocean to create a progressive, creatively powerful agency with world class digital experience. Wez’s leadership skills, creative excellence and cross channel expertise will be integral to our success. Now we have Wez on board, we are open for business and already have new client conversations underway. Plus, we will also be announcing several new senior appointments in the coming weeks.”

Hawes added, “The chance to join Innocean at this point in its trajectory really appealed to me. With the team Jasmin is assembling, the agency has the potential to make a big impact in Australia. I truly believe we have the resources to become a creative powerhouse. I’m also looking forward to working with Innocean’s existing partners, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis and Super Cars Australia as well as any new brands that come on board in 2021.”

Hawes’ appointment is effective from November 2.

Cover image l-r: Wesley Hawes & Jasmin Bedirsaid