GSP NY Names Founding Creative Director Team

Goodby Silverstein & Partners New York has named Steve Wakelam and Nick Pringle from DDB Sydney as creative directors. This news comes as the agency’s New York office continues to build its leadership team, including the recent addition of Head of Strategy Tom Morton, who joins Christian Haas and Nancy Reyes on the management team.

 

“When one of the most respected agencies in the world opens a start-up in New York and gives you the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, to help shape and grow the business, you just have to jump at it,” stated Wakelam.

 

The highly awarded duo previously led creative on the Volkswagen account at DDB Sydney. Last year their work won a Cannes Gold Press Lion for the Volkswagen “Nightmare Parks” campaign, and under their stewardship VW became the number one advertiser in Australia in 2012. Also during their time at DDB, the pair produced the ever-popular TrackMyMacca’s mobile app for McDonald’s, which allows consumers to know where their food comes from.

 

“You know a good team when, looking at their portfolio, you wish you had done pretty much all of it. Nick and Steve are incredibly talented creatives but also really nice guys, and that’s something we value a lot,” said Christian Haas, partner and executive creative director. 

 

Prior to DDB, Wakelam was a creative director at Publicis Mojo Sydney, where he wrote, among other projects, a globally awarded spot for Australian beer brand Boag’s called “Pure Waters,” which received a Gold Cannes Lion and was considered one of the best campaigns of 2009. He has also worked at BBH and Leo Burnett in London on clients including Levi’s, AEG and Umbro. 

 

Before DDB, Pringle was a creative director at CHI London, where he launched one of the country’s largest companies, British Gas, which now has one of the UK’s most recognized campaigns. He also spent time at Leo Burnett in London, working on Heinz, John West, McDonald’s and P&G.

 

“I look forward to surfing the Hudson and sunbathing in my budgies up at Central Park,” joked Pringle.

 

In the last five years, Wakelam and Pringle have won a combined ten Cannes Lions (including four Golds), four D&AD Pencils, two One Show golds, as well as Grand Prix honors at the Spikes and CLIOs. Campaign Brief currently ranks Pringle and Wakelam as the number two and three creatives, respectively, in Australia.