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Newhaven hire top Leith creative team as Mason and Harrison head to London

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

January 31, 2007 | 2 min read

Newhaven Communications is strengthening its creative department with the hiring of Leith’s senior creative team, Rufus Wedderburn and Chris Watson.

The agency will, however, be bidding farewell to Paul Mason and Mark Harrison, who have agreed to a move to Red Brick Road in London.

Since Wedderburn teamed up with Watson at Leith, the pair have won numerous awards for their work on BNJ, Irn Bru and The Scottish Executive, securing Scottish Advertising’s Grand Prix in 2005.

“The time is right for fresh challenges and new responsibilities and Newhaven offers both,” said Wedderburn. “We can’t wait to get working on such a strong client list and we know we’ll have a lot of fun along the way.”

Meanwhile, Harrison and Mason have enjoyed enormous success at Newhaven. The agency took the pair on as juniors, and in just over two years they have become one of the most awarded teams in Scotland, earning the ‘Young Team of the Year’ accolade in 2005, and the 2006 Grand Prix for their Tennent’s ‘Black Magic’ ad.

“It’s fantastic for Paul and Mark that their talent has been recognised in London, and a great riposte to those who suggest that fresh talent can’t be nurtured in Scotland,” said Newhaven creative partner Zane Radcliffe. “Their creative output was unbelievable for us and I have no doubt that they will be very successful. They’re great lads with a fantastic attitude and the whole agency is very proud of them.”

Mason said that the move to London came out of the blue. “We hadn’t been looking to move. We were the second team at the most creative agency in Scotland and very happy too. It took a great offer from London to prise us away.”

“But it’s onwards and upwards, and we’re really excited about the prospect of Rufus and Chris coming in to the fold,” said Newhaven partner Gareth Howells. “Their work is top notch, they’re extremely ambitious and their experience will really bolster the agency. We can’t wait to let them loose on briefs like Tennent’s and Bank of Scotland.”

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