Innocean Australia has announced the appointment of Brendan Willenberg as its new Executive Creative Director (ECD). Willenberg, an award-winning creative leader with over 20 years of experience, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the agency.
His impressive career includes key roles at leading agencies such as McCann, Clemenger BBDO, Archibald Williams, and Cummins&Partners. Known for his work on high-profile campaigns like “Pitvertising” for Rexona, “Losing Lena” for Code Like a Girl, and “Support Acts” for Wrigley’s Extra, Willenberg has earned numerous awards, including Cannes Lions, Effies, and One Show accolades. He was also a finalist for the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award for his work on the “Losing Lena” campaign.
Willenberg’s appointment marks an important milestone for Innocean as the agency continues to expand and evolve. CEO Jasmin Bedir expressed her excitement about the new hire, highlighting that Willenberg’s expertise in both traditional and digital marketing will help the agency grow its end-to-end creative services. “Brendan is the perfect match for Innocean. His unique blend of brand-building experience, digital expertise, and creative leadership will be key to our growth in 2025,” Bedir said.
Innocean’s focus for 2025 is to build on its strong creative foundation by integrating media planning and buying capabilities. Willenberg’s experience in managing large-scale campaigns and his ability to work across multiple disciplines are seen as crucial to Innocean’s strategy for the future.
Willenberg himself shared his excitement about joining the team: “Jasmin has transformed Innocean into an agency with a formidable range of capabilities, and I’m excited to bring my creativity to help drive the agency’s vision forward. Together, we’ll make Innocean a creative powerhouse that delivers exceptional work for our clients.”
This strategic hire comes on the heels of Innocean’s recent launch of its media planning and buying division, adding to its expanding range of services. With a strong focus on creative, digital, and media solutions, Innocean is poised for significant growth in the coming years.
The appointment follows the departure of former ECD Wez Hawes, who will join 72andSunny as Chief Creative Officer in 2025. Bedir thanked Hawes for his contributions to Innocean and wished him all the best in his future endeavors.
Willenberg’s extensive experience, along with his passion for creative excellence, positions him perfectly to lead Innocean Australia into the future, ensuring the agency continues to deliver innovative and impactful campaigns to its clients.
