Toby Talbot will depart from Ogilvy as Creative Officer (CCO) of Australia and New Zealand after more than three and a half years in the role.
Talbot joined the agency in January 2022, to take on the inaugural role of trans-Tasman CCO, overseeing creative teams across the business and creative output in both NZ and Australia.
Prior to his appointment at Ogilvy, he was CCO at DDB-owned Catorce, based in Barcelona.
During his tenure, Talbot spearheaded a number of transformative initiatives, including the launch of Return On Creativity (ROC) – a bold, Ogilvy-exclusive framework developed in partnership with Chief Strategy Officer Fran Clayton.
ROC was designed to elevate the value of creativity beyond traditional ROI metrics and is reflective of Talbot’s commitment to proving that great creative work drives real business impact, while deepening collaboration with clients.
Reed Collins, Ogilvy APAC’s Chief Creative Officer, credits Toby Talbot with leading a creative resurgence in ANZ. Under Talbot’s guidance, Ogilvy’s offices delivered impactful campaigns like Matildas ‘Til It’s Done, Meet Me at the Coke Sign, The Spot, and Kentucky Fly. These projects are known for their bold, culturally relevant integration of social, earned, and brand strategies.
Collins said of Talbot: “I want to personally thank Toby for all he’s accomplished in his time at Ogilvy.
“He’s been a true advocate of borderless creativity across the network, a magnet for the next generation of talent and creative leadership. And the work really does speak for itself. He leaves us in an incredibly strong creative position and I’m confident about our future.”
Talbot said of his exit: “I believe advertising is a team sport. The opportunity to galvanise Ogilvy’s creative output across the whole business was what brought me back to ANZ to take on this role. It’s been an incredible journey.
“It’s been all consuming, but the way Ogilvy now uses creative thinking to go way beyond the transactional approaches of old, I’m really proud of where we are today.
“Now feels like the right time for me to step away. I want a new challenge. If I reflect on the work I love to do, it’s ideas that drive commercial outcomes. Or behaviour change. Or some kind of major reappraisal. These are transferrable skills and I intend to put what I’ve learned to use”.
Talbot leaves Ogilvy at the end of this week and leaves a deep creative leadership bench in Max McKeon, Ant Simmons, Nina East, and Bridget Jung, who will continue to build on the agency’s creative foundation that Talbot fostered.
Talbot’s departure comes after Sally Kissane announced her departure as CEO of Ogilvy Network ANZ after three-decade tenure at the agency.
Top image: Toby Talbot