In the quiet but consequential world of independent creative studios, Rick Barry has made a deliberate move — bringing award-winning creative director Andrew Torrisi into the fold at a moment when the studio's ambitions are outgrowing its former scale. Torrisi, shaped by years at Sydney's most storied agencies, arrives as Rick Barry opens a Darwin office and takes on the task of building a global brand identity for Tourism & Events Northern Territory. It is the kind of appointment that signals not merely growth, but a considered bet on what kind of creative culture the studio intends to become
Rick Barry Appoints Award-Winning CD Andrew Torrisi Following New Business Wins
A place where creativity has permission to let loose
Mark
So Rick Barry is a small independent shop, and they just hired a creative director from M&C Saatchi. What does that tell us about where they're headed?
Mimi
It tells you they've won real work—the Tourism & Events Northern Territory account is substantial enough that they're opening an office in Darwin. That's not a small move. They need someone who can lead strategy and execution at that scale.
Luke
But we should be careful here. The announcement says Torrisi is "exactly the kind of creative leader we want"—that's the founder talking. We don't have independent confirmation of what he's actually delivered in his first weeks, or how the team is responding beyond Derwin's quote.
Mark
Fair point. But his award history is documented, right? Cannes, D&AD, One Show—those are real.
Mimi
Yes, and he was part of DDB's Creative Team of the Year in 2023 with Stephanie Allen. That's a specific, verifiable achievement. The work he's cited—McDonald's, Volkswagen, Tourism New Zealand—those are real campaigns.
Luke
They are. But we don't know if Torrisi was the lead on those, or what his specific contribution was. The source says he "helped create" them, which is deliberately vague. And the bandmate comment about his voice—that's a joke, not a credential.
Mark
So what's the real story here? Is this just a hire announcement, or is there something bigger?
Mimi
It's both. On the surface, it's a hire that signals confidence in Rick Barry's growth. But underneath, it's about an independent studio betting that they need senior creative leadership to handle the kind of work they're winning now. The Darwin office, the global brand platform—that's not small-scale work.
Luke
And that's the part worth watching. Can Torrisi actually deliver on that scale for an independent shop? We'll know in six months or a year when the Tourism & Events Northern Territory work starts appearing in the market.
Mark
So we're waiting to see if the hire pays off.
Mimi
Exactly. Right now, it's a smart move on paper. The proof is in the work.
O Pulso
- Rick Barry's rapid new business wins — most notably Tourism & Events Northern Territory — have pushed the independent studio into territory that demands senior creative firepower.
- The Darwin office opening marks a genuine geographic and strategic expansion, not just a headline, as the studio prepares to craft a global brand platform for the Territory.
- Torrisi brings a decorated résumé — Cannes, D&AD, One Show, and a DDB Creative Team of the Year title — giving Rick Barry credibility to compete for larger, more complex briefs.
- Co-founder Alex Derwin has framed the hire as much about mentorship and studio culture as it is about output, signalling an intent to build from within rather than simply scale up.
- Only weeks into the role, Torrisi is already said to be shaping the studio's direction — suggesting the momentum is real and the transition is moving quickly.
In the quiet but consequential world of independent creative studios, Rick Barry has made a deliberate move — bringing award-winning creative director Andrew Torrisi into the fold at a moment when the studio's ambitions are outgrowing its former scale. Torrisi, shaped by years at Sydney's most storied agencies, arrives as Rick Barry opens a Darwin office and takes on the task of building a global brand identity for Tourism & Events Northern Territory. It is the kind of appointment that signals not merely growth, but a considered bet on what kind of creative culture the studio intends to become.
Rick Barry, the independent creative studio, has appointed Andrew Torrisi as creative director — a hire that arrives on the back of meaningful new business momentum, including the win of Tourism & Events Northern Territory. Torrisi steps in from M&C Saatchi, carrying a career built across DDB Sydney and TBWA Sydney, and a body of work that spans McDonald's, Volkswagen, mycar, and Tourism New Zealand. His campaigns have been recognised at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, and beyond, and in 2023 he and creative partner Stephanie Allen were named DDB's Creative Team of the Year.
The Northern Territory win is significant enough that Rick Barry is opening a Darwin office to service it — the account calls for a new global brand platform, the kind of foundational creative challenge that demands exactly the seniority Torrisi brings. Co-founder and chief creative officer Alex Derwin described the appointment as a natural extension of the studio's direction, highlighting not just Torrisi's strategic and creative range, but his willingness to invest in the younger talent around him.
Torrisi, for his part, spoke warmly about stepping into a culture where creativity has room to breathe. He has been in the role only a matter of weeks, but Derwin noted he is already leaving a mark on the studio's output. The appointment reads less like a routine hire and more like a statement of intent — Rick Barry is building for the work it wants to do next.
Rick Barry, an independent creative studio, has brought on Andrew Torrisi as creative director following a series of new business wins that have pushed the shop into expansion mode. Torrisi arrives from M&C Saatchi, where he held a senior creative role, and brings with him a track record built across some of Sydney's most established agencies—DDB Sydney (now operating as Clemenger BBDO) and TBWA Sydney among them.
Over his career, Torrisi has worked on campaigns that have gained real traction in the market. He helped develop McDonald's 'The Original Mouthful', Volkswagen Amarok's 'Born From Tough Love', mycar's 'R Plates', and Tourism New Zealand's 'PLAY NZ'. The work has accumulated recognition at major international award shows: Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Spikes, AWARD, Adfest, and LIA. In 2023, Torrisi and creative partner Stephanie Allen were named DDB's Creative Team of the Year, a marker of the caliber he brings to the table.
The timing of his arrival aligns with Rick Barry's growth. The studio recently won Tourism & Events Northern Territory as a client, a win significant enough to warrant opening a Darwin office. That account will involve developing a new global brand platform for the Territory—the kind of foundational work that requires senior creative leadership and strategic thinking.
Alex Derwin, co-founder and chief creative officer at Rick Barry, framed the hire as a natural fit for the studio's direction. He noted that Torrisi combines strategic thinking with strong creative skills, and emphasized his willingness to mentor the younger creatives on staff. Derwin also offered a lighter note: according to Torrisi's former bandmates, he has the voice of an angel. Torrisi himself spoke to the culture he's stepping into, describing Rick Barry as a place where creativity is given room to move and have fun, and expressing enthusiasm about the vision that co-founders Alex Derwin and Hugh are building.
Torrisi has been in the role for a couple of weeks at the time of this announcement, and Derwin indicated he's already making an impact on the studio's output and direction. The appointment signals that Rick Barry is not just growing in client roster but also investing in the senior creative talent needed to handle larger, more complex work.
Citações Notáveis
Andrew is exactly the kind of creative leader we want at Rick Barry. He's got a strategic brain, incredible creative skills and the voice of an angel according to his old bandmates.— Alex Derwin, co-founder and chief creative officer, Rick Barry
Alex and Hugh are creating something special here. A place where creativity has permission to let loose and have fun.— Andrew Torrisi
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