London - Saatchi & Saatchi has hired Paul Silburn to partner Kate Stanners. Both will assume the newly created title of creative partner.
Silburn is widely recognised as one of the best creatives in the industry. He is one of the most awarded creatives in the world and regularly appears on advertising "who's who" lists and awards judging panels.
Robert Senior, UK CEO, SSF Group, said: "Paul's reel and appetite beyond TV speaks for itself and signals a very clear intent at Saatchi & Saatchi."
Silburn has become synonymous with the "No Nonsense" campaign for John Smiths beer, starring Peter Kay, which won Campaign magazine's 2002 Campaign of the Year and helped Scottish Courage to also win the Advertiser of the Year accolade.
He is also known for award-winning work for brands such as Stella Artois, John West Salmon, Nike, Levi's and Sony PlayStation.
Silburn produced the "Bear" spot for John West Salmon which was one of the first ads to have a significant viral presence and has now been viewed more than 300 million times making it the joint sixth most viewed film online ever.
He also wrote the "Red Shoes", "Hero's Return" and "Last Orders" spots for Stella Artois and created the long-running "Lynx Effect" campaign which is now a global campaign.
Stanners said: "Paul is one of the great writers of his generation. Attracting him to Saatchi & Saatchi is a huge coup for the agency and our clients."
Silburn will take up the post from January 2008.
He has been working as a creative consultant to brand owners and agencies since leaving his post as executive creative director for Fallon North America in 2006. There he oversaw the creation of an award-winning branded content campaign called Brawny Academy, an online reality TV show which set out to help men become more helpful around the home and more understanding of their partners.
Before the move to Fallon North America, Silburn was deputy creative director at TBWA London. His previous agencies include Leo Burnett, Lowe, Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Simons Palmer Denton Clemmow & Johnson
Silburn said: "It feels like a great time to be joining Saatchi & Saatchi. There's a renewed optimism and energy about the place and I'm really looking forward to working with Kate and Robert to build on this."
The move follows the recent appointment of Silburn's former TBWA London colleague Tony McTear as creative director at Fallon London and reinforces the SSF Group's stated ambition of championing creativity to drive growth at both Saatchi & Saatchi and Fallon.