RKCR/Y&R in London has hired Mick Mahoney from Havas Worldwide (formerly Euro RSCG) as its new executive creative director. Mahoney (pictured centre) replaces Toby Talbot who left to return to New Zealand.
Mahoney is an industry veteran, having worked at CDP, Lowe Howard-Spink (where he won a Grand Prix for Stella Artois), Simons Palmer and BBH, originally as a copywriter.
RKCR/Y&R has been a strong WPP agency in recent years, currently billing about £250m with a blue chip list of accounts including Marks and Spencer, Lloyds Banking Group, Virgin Atlantic, Vodafone and Land Rover. It has survived the departures of messrs Rainey, Kelly and Campbell and the Adam&Eve breakaway (now Adam&Eve/DDB).
Remaining founder and current agency chairman Mark Roalfe says: “I’ve long been a fan of Mick’s. He has an undisputed creative pedigree and has done a great job turning round the work at Havas.”
Mahoney says: “RKCR/Y&R is an irresistible opportunity. Great brands, great people and a huge appetite for great work. I’ve had an incredible time at Havas and am proud to be leaving it in a much stronger place than I found it.”
Which makes the Euro RSCG of yore sound a bit of a mess – but there you go.
