Former Tribal executive creative director Josh Stein is looking forward to a “bigger stage” as he transitions to MacLaren McCann in early May.
Reporting into MacLaren McCann chief creative officer Darren Clarke, Stein “will work across all clients and disciplines,” the company said in a statement.
In an interview with Marketing, Stein cited “Dumb Ways to Die,” a public service announcement from Metro Trains developed by McCann’s Melbourne office as an example of the kind of work that has him excited about working as the firm’s ECD.
“When I saw that, I saw a groundbreaking piece of work,” he said, adding that it reflected “Truth Well Told,” the MacLaren McCann vision statement. “Nowadays there are so many different opportunities to find your way into audiences’ lives. It’s not just about being digital, direct, virtual or whatever the word of the day is. It’s just about connecting with your clients and audience in a meaningful way.”
Stein joined Tribal in 2013 and grew the team substantially to take on broader campaigns. In a document dated March 14 that was sent from Tribal to Marketing, the company suggested Stein left amid changes in its growth strategy, which involved unspecified structural changes.
“As part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to aligning staff with changing business needs, effective today it will be parting ways with executive creative director Joshua Stein,” the statement said. “We thank Mr. Stein for his service and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours. The agency’s creative bench strength is deep, and will be leveraged while it evaluates a succession plan.”
Stein had no comment on the Tribal statement, other than to offer his best wishes to his former employer as well. Beyond an admiration for Clarke’s vision, he pointed to the strength of the overall MacLaren McCann network.
“There’s talent dedicated to every discipline,” he said. “At this point, a supporting cast can be as important as the creative department. You need great strategists, great UX thinkers, great social thinkers. There are all these complementary skill sets that need to come together to navigate today’s world.”
