Haydn Morris has been promoted to global executive creative director at mcgarrybowen New York, leading creative for United Airlines. Morris expands his role as the agency takes on expanded global duties for United following Dentsu Aegis Network's recent global media account win (mcgarrybowen is part of the Dentsu family).
Matt Ian, mcgarrybowen NY’s chief creative officer, said, “The intensity of Haydn’s enthusiasm for what we do is matched only by the impeccability of his craft. His relentless efforts are crucial to the agency’s renewed focus on creative excellence. Haydn has been with this agency since its earliest days and has been an integral part of its success.”
Morris started his career in London, but he would go on a journey that spanned three continents to get to New York. His first job at Saatchi and Saatchi included his first experience with air travel, for British Airways. After a stint at BMP DDB Needham, he moved to Italy—a decision he considers one of his best. He landed at McCann, and despite producing highly acclaimed work, he felt something was missing. So, Morris created his own agency, HMA, in Rome, and became attracted to startup culture. His work for McDonald’s and Honda scooters garnered the attention of former colleagues at Saatchi and Saatchi, who persuaded him to sell his agency and move to New Zealand to help run the shop there. Campaigns for Air New Zealand plus the biggest IPO in New Zealand’s history followed, but when a Y&R breakaway called, he couldn’t resist. Within four years, it was Agency of the Year. Missing Europe, Morris returned to Italy with a new plan–olive oil production from his groves in Calabria. The plan did not last long, and when headhunters told him about a year-old agency in Manhattan, something stirred. Morris joined mcgarrybowen in 2004, when the agency was still a startup. At the beginning, he worked across nearly all mcgarrybowen accounts until 2010, when he led the creative that landed the United Airlines account.
Over the course of his career, Morris earned top honors from every major industry award show, along with having his work celebrated in the press. As United is the official Airline for the Olympics, Morris has created many Olympic campaigns, including “Superheroes” for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, featuring Team USA athletes and United employees as the “real” superheroes. The campaign was shot by acclaimed Hollywood director Martin Campbell, best known for his James Bond films. Morris also created the “Real-Time Taxi Tops” for United—a campaign to show the comparison of time to get to Newark versus JFK. The campaign picked up nearly every award for its innovative use of data, including two Cannes Lions.
Ida Rezvani, newly minted president of mcgarrybowen NY, said, “Haydn is an integral part of the United business and mcgarrybowen New York. His relationship with United runs deep and exemplifies the relationships we foster with our clients. It is this unique relationship that has resulted in the great work we do.”
Morris said, “I’ve built my life and career around a somewhat naive but irresistible urge to try new things. Moving to New York to join mcgarrybowen after only one year of its creation was one of the best decisions I’ve made.” He added his belief that mcgarrybowen still has all the attributes of the beloved startup, “And we’re just getting started.”
