Independent creative agency Howatson+Company has created a new creative leadership structure, promoting executive creative directors Gavin Chimes and Richard Shaw to chief creative officer and deputy chief creative officer, respectively.
This marks the first appointment to the CCO position since Levi Slavin resigned in January 2023 after a year in the job to co-found The Ironclad Pan Company in New Zealand.
Chimes is a founding team member of Howatson+Company, joining the agency at its inception in 2021. He has since been ranked the #6 ECD globally at D&AD, named Australian Creative of the Year, and won over 100 awards, including multiple Grand Prix, Golds, and Yellow Pencils for campaigns such as Matilda Bay Rejected Ales, Maurice Blackburn Exhibit A-i, 10PM Bedverts, Modibodi I’m Dying Inside, Belong Book of Limbo, and Mastercard’s TOUCH.
Before Howatson+Company, Chimes worked with co-founder Chris Howatson at CHE Proximity, and spent time at Clemenger BBDO, Marcel, and Droga5, creating work including Tiger Beer Air-Ink, The Lion’s Share, NRMA First Saturday, Sloways, and Samsung Microcodes.
“Gav’s promotion is in recognition of his leadership and creative excellence, but most especially his tenacity in always seeking the best outcome for our clients. No brief is too small. No objective too challenging,” said Howatson.
“Gav is a true believer of effectiveness as the strategy, creativity as the solution. I’m very proud to have him lead the creative product of our fabulous agency as CCO.”
Shaw joined Howatson+Company in 2022 as executive creative director from CHEP, where he led Samsung. Prior to CHEP, Shaw worked across a portfolio of clients at agencies including Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, TBWA, and DDB.
“Similarly, Rich’s promotion is in recognition of his uncompromising commitment to our clients with creativity always as the answer,” Howatson continued.
“He is a calm, guiding hand, regardless how complex the conditions. And an exceptional people leader. I couldn’t be more proud of Gav and Rich and confident in our future.”
Chimes and Shaw commented: “It’s been a privilege helping build something extraordinary over the last few years. Yet it’s only the start. We look forward to continuing H+Co’s trajectory, working with wonderful people and clients to make the best work in the world.”
Howatson+Company has been named Independent Agency of the Year at shows including D&AD, Cannes (Good), Spikes, ANDYs, and LIA. Recently, the agency was one of eight in the world to make the 2024 Contagious Pioneers list.
The promotions follow a string of recent work for the agency, including its latest campaign for Qantas, the official airline and partner of the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams, Already Proud. It also launched the creative campaign behind Cover-More Travel Insurance’s brand refresh.
See also:
Qantas and Howatson+Co debut ‘Already Proud’ Olympics film
Cover-More refreshes brand with Principals, Howatson+Company
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Top image: Gavin Chimes and Richard Shaw