Former Zulu CD fills role vacated by MacKellar
Joseph Bonnici will have a new office Monday morning. After spending the last two years at Toronto agency Zulu Alpha Kilo, the creative director is set to start across town at fellow independent shop Bensimon Byrne on Dec. 12.
Bonnici’s career has taken him from DDB Vancouver to Taxi to Lowe Roche (his first creative director’s gig), winning industry awards from the CMA, ADCC, Marketing and Cannes all the while.
While at Zulu, he created “The Orchestra,” the finale to Bell’s 2010 Olympic sponsorship campaign. He also worked on clients Workopolis, Coca-Cola and The Bay.
“His book is fantastic,” said David Rosenberg, partner and chief creative officer at Bensimon Byrne. “His work is unbelievably strategically focused, but at the same time creatively brilliant. And he’s a fantastic guy.”
Bensimon Byrne has been looking for a creative director since the departure of Ian MacKellar in September. MacKellar joined Ogilvy & Mather, succeeding Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin as chief creative officer.
Bonnici will oversee all of Bensimon Byrne’s creative work. Jon Toews remains creative director at the agency’s Mighty Digital division.
Zak Mroueh, founder of Zulu Alpha Kilo and himself a CD, said there are no immediate plans to fill Bonnici’s role.
“It was a pleasure to having him at Zulu,” Mroueh said. “He’s super talented and loved by everyone here. We’ll truly miss him.”
