BBDO ECD leaves for McCann Erickson

Singapore - Marketing has confirmed that BBDO's executive creative director Farrokh Madon is leaving the agency to join McCann Erickson in a parallel position - he replaces Ng Tian It, who left McCann in February for Batey.

Madon's departure follows news of BBDO head of art Alex Lim's announcement that he too would be leaving the agency to join Leo Burnett as CD, as reported in Marketing's 17 April bulletin, Leo Burnett finds CD in Lim. 

McCann CEO and director of South and SE Asia Sorab Mistry said the selection of the agency's new creative leader was an important move to maintain McCann's momentum in Singapore.

"There is no doubt that Farrokh has what it takes to propel the agency. I am delighted with his decision to join us," Mistry said.

"I'm looking forward to an exciting new chapter with McCann," said Madon. "I'd like to continue the tradition of creative excellence at McCann and drive exciting work for the agency's clients."

In light of Madon's departure, Jean-Paul Burge, MD of BBDO Singapore told Marketing that agency creative decisions would come under the remit of incoming chief creative officer, Danny Searle, who joins the agency in July.

"We're sorry that Farrokh's leaving - he's done a good job but naturally people move on and we wish him the best," Burge said.

"Danny will be starting with us in two months time and he will be making the decisions on how creative will be structured. We're sorry that Farrokh will not be staying for that but Danny will be leading the agency creatively."

Burge said there will be a replacement for the ECD post at the agency but had no comment on when a new appointment would be made.

Madon joined BBDO in June 2005 and took over the ECD role in May 2006 following the departure of predecessor Francis Wee. In that time the agency has won accounts such as Mercedes-Benz, Keppel's corporate advertising and the Far East and Tunisia campaigns for Emirates Airlines. BBDO also scooped 17 awards at the 2006 Creative Circle Awards and won a Best of Show (Outdoor) and two golds at this year's AdFest in Thailand.

Prior to BBDO, Madon was deputy creative director at M&C Saatchi and also worked with agencies such as Saatchi and Saatchi Singapore and Batey. Clients he has worked on include the Republic of Singapore Navy, Discovery Channel, Changi Airport, Tiger Beer, and Singapore Airlines.