Independent creative company Hello has appointed David Griffiths as Managing Director, marking another significant investment in its executive leadership team following the launch of its creative agency and integrated offering 18 months ago. The appointment follows last week’s hire of WPP executive Caroline Berdayes as Chief Financial & Operating Officer, as the independent group builds on a year of double-digit revenue and profit growth in FY26.
Griffiths brings more than 20 years’ experience leading brands, agencies and commercial growth across the Asia-Pacific region. His career spans both agency and client leadership, beginning at global agency iris, where he served as Managing Partner, helping drive the agency’s growth while expanding its capabilities across creative, sport, content and integrated marketing. He later moved client-side, holding senior Director and Head of Marketing roles at Uber, Stan and Samsung, where he led transformative brand, customer and commercial marketing programs.
This breadth of experience gives him a unique perspective on building stronger partnerships between brands and agencies, delivering integrated creative solutions that drive measurable commercial outcomes.
In his new role, Griffiths will lead Hello’s creative agency and integrated offering, working alongside Director of Social & Talent Ben Stavert to further unite the agency’s strategy, creative, social, influencer, events, production, PR and media & measurement capabilities. He will focus on deepening strategic client partnerships, growing the agency’s integrated proposition and ensuring the voice of the client, brand and customer sits at the centre of every engagement.
Hello CEO Sam Kelly said Griffiths’ appointment reflects the agency’s continued investment in building an integrated creative company for the digital era.
“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. That perspective is incredibly valuable in today’s market, where clients expect partners to understand both commercial realities and creative ambition.
“Throughout his career, David has consistently built high-performing teams, grown businesses and helped both challenger and category-leading brands solve meaningful commercial challenges. He’s an exceptional operator with a rare ability to raise standards, develop people and create environments where teams do the best work of their careers.
Just as importantly, David shares our belief that the future belongs to agencies capable of solving bigger business problems, not just delivering campaigns. His leadership will strengthen our culture, deepen our client partnerships and elevate the quality of thinking and creativity across the agency, helping us deliver work that creates lasting commercial impact.”
Griffiths said the opportunity to join Hello came at a time when the industry was being fundamentally reshaped.
“The lines between creativity, social, media, creators, production and technology have all but disappeared. Clients don’t need more specialist agencies; they need partners who can bring those capabilities together to solve bigger business problems.
“What attracted me to Hello was its ambition and its willingness to challenge the traditional agency model. The business has built an incredible reputation across social, content, earned and influencer marketing, and now has the opportunity to become one of Australia’s leading integrated creative agencies.
“I’ve always believed the best agencies create environments where people do the best work of their careers. When you combine talented people with the right culture, clear ambition and deep client partnerships, career-defining work follows—for our people, our clients and ultimately the agency.
“I’m excited to bring my experience to Hello, but equally excited to learn from the exceptional team already here. My role is to help unlock that potential, build on what’s already been created and lead the next chapter of growth.”
The key hire marks a successful FY25–26 for the 70 person agency who have added FujiFilm Australia, CommBank, Amazon, Dry July, 4Pines and Wingstop international to an already impressive portfolio including the likes of Uber, Paramount+, Audible, BMW, Network 10, Under Armour, Paramount Pictures, Budget Direct, Kimberly Clark, Rebel Sport, Afterpay, LiquidIV and Kmart.
