Hello names David Griffiths managing director amid growth push

Creative agency Hello has named former Uber, Stan and Samsung marketing executive David Griffiths managing director, as the business shores up its leadership bench following a year of double-digit growth.

The appointment comes a week after Hello named former WPP executive Caroline Berdayes as chief financial and operating officer, with both hires supporting the agency's integrated creative offering launched 18 months ago.

Griffiths brings some 20 years of experience to the indi agency. He began his career at Iris, where he served as managing partner, before moving into senior marketing leadership roles at Uber, Stan and Samsung.

In the newly created role, Griffiths will lead Hello's creative agency and integrated offering alongside director of social and talent Ben Stavert, overseeing strategy, creative, social, influencer marketing, events, production, PR, media and measurement.

Hello CEO Sam Kelly said Griffiths' experience on both sides of the client-agency relationship made him well suited to the role.

"David is one of those rare leaders who has built brands from the inside and outside. He's sat in the boardroom making marketing investment decisions, and he's led agency teams responsible for delivering the work," Kelly said.

Griffiths said clients increasingly wanted partners capable of bringing multiple disciplines together rather than relying on specialist agencies.

"The lines between creativity, social, media, creators, production and technology have all but disappeared," he said.

"What attracted me to Hello was its ambition and its willingness to challenge the traditional agency model."

Hello now employs around 70 people and recently added Fujifilm Australia, CommBank, Amazon, Dry July, 4 Pines and Wingstop to its client roster.