Needham to set up Sydney arm of Attik

Simon Needham, joint founder and creative director of The Attik, is to leave the UK for Australia, where he will oversee the launch of a Sydney branch of the fast-growing consultancy.

Needham and London managing director Tim Watson counter industry rumours that Needham’s move has been prompted by a fallout between management.

The London office, where Needham had been creative director, will be left in the hands of Watson. “Wherever I am I seem to want to be in charge of everything. I’m giving Tim a chance to do everything. The decisions he makes won’t have to be questioned by me,” says Needham.

Watson says that having two directors in one office was difficult, but that there were no fallouts between the group’s management.

“We are looking at opening the office in January,” says Needham, who will take the managing/creative director role of the venture. Between seven and ten staff will be employed at the new office when it launches, he says.

A number of clients in the region are “opening the doors now we have a global offer”, he adds. Needham plans to stay in Sydney for at least 18 months.

The Attik also has offices in New York, San Francisco and Huddersfield. Needham is currently travelling between the offices to establish consistent best practice working patterns to introduce across the group.