BBDO Dublin Appoints Shane O'Brien as Executive Creative Director

BBDO Dublin have announced that it has appointed Shane O’Brien as executive creative director, replacing Dylan Cotter.

Shane is one of the most respected, award-winning, exciting and well-liked creatives in Dublin and joined the agency in December in a full-time capacity having previously freelanced. His tenures included creative directorships at Guns or Knives and at Rothco where he won a Cannes Lion for the ‘A Shred of Decency’ campaign. His work has been recognised at the Cannes Lions, EPICAs, Eurobest, London International Awards, One Show, Kinsale Sharks, ICAD, ADFX, the Webbies to name a few.

Along with BBDO’s Colm O’Gaora and Rob Murray, Shane formed one third of the interim creative leadership triumvirate who led the creative department following Cotter’s departure. 

Neal Davies, chief executive of BBDO Dublin said: “I’ve worked with great creatives all over the world and it’s obvious that Shane is top class. As a leadership team, we took a thorough look at ourselves over the last month or so, and at the industry both here and overseas, and we interviewed candidates from all over the world, but Shane shone through. He’s got a serious appetite for work and a great strike rate of coming up with creative, effective and newsworthy solutions. We are delighted that he has accepted.”

Shane added: “It’s been something of a homecoming for me, here at BBDO.  Not only because I began my career here, but the building has something of family significance too. My great grandfather actually worked in this old tram shed as a conductor for about 30 years until the 1940s, so I’m honoured and delighted to take the wheel here as the new ECD.  There is serious talent in this agency coupled with a really exciting and diverse group of clients. I am very excited about what we will all achieve together and looking forward to all that lies ahead.”