BMF’s chief creative officer Alex Derwin is leaving to set up his own shop, Mediaweek can reveal, after almost nine years with the Enero agency.
CEO Steve McArdle told Mediaweek that the agency will announce a new creative boss over the next couple of months, having already “started conversations with some of the best creative leaders in the business.”
“It’s bittersweet to say farewell to Alex. He’s been a big factor in the success BMF’s been fortunate enough to enjoy over his nine years at the agency – seven of those as our creative leader,” McArdle said.
“But he’s got an itch he needs to scratch, and we respect the bravery and belief that takes, so we’re excited for him as he embarks on that next adventure.”
McArdle noted that BMF has a strong creative bench and will continue “building on our current momentum.”
“Fortunately for us, a big part of Alex’s legacy is a creative department jam-packed full of extraordinary talent at every level, so I’m equally excited about what’s ahead for BMF.”
Derwin joined BMF in 2015 as a creative director, working his way up to executive creative director, then chief creative officer. In his time at the business, he’s worked on clients such as ALDI, Tourism Tasmania, and Tennis Australia.
“The last nine years at BMF have been the most creatively rewarding of my career,” Derwin said.
“It’s a place with a big heart, where you can balance the highest creative standards with a kindness that’s all too uncommon. There are heaps of people I need to thank personally, but more than anything I need to give Steve [McArdle] and Christina [Aventi, chief strategy officer] a big hug for giving me the chance to join them in leading this merry ship.
“I’m off for a little lie down before I launch into something new and exciting.”
Derwin will reveal more about his next venture in due course.
Recently, the agency hired Eileen Cosgrove-Moloney from Special as joint GM, and Simone Takasaki as head of creative services and integrated production. Yesterday, it unveiled its biggest ever iteration of Tourism Tasmania’s Off Season campaign, pushing into TV for the first time and experimenting with UV billboard printing.
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Top image: Alex Derwin