I worked with Pat extremely closely for around five years. When the agency I was a part of took over McCann in Australia, he was our first hire. And he worked side by side with me while we took McCann Melbourne from an agency that was leaking clients and producing unremarkable work, to an agency that won over 50 Cannes Lions in those four years and improved dramatically in terms of new business, client retention and industry reputation.

Pat is a creative’s creative, with a passion for the product I’ve seen in few others. He’s never tried to make himself famous, but he’s constantly succeeded in making famous work. I think there’s a correlation there.

If you work with him, you’ll be working with someone who’ll give everything in service of the idea, and to the craft required to take that idea and realise its full potential.

Don’t be afraid to give him your toughest briefs.

If you work with him don’t be afraid to give him your biggest challenges. The kind of projects that scare most of us. He won’t be scared, because his relentless optimism for what creativity can achieve means he’ll attack any and every opportunity with nothing less than everything he has.

If you work with him, you’ll be working with a pragmatist and a perfectionist. Which sounds like an impossible dichotomy but what can I say, that’s Pat.

He’s solidly down to earth, and knows the reality of our business, but he never leaves anything on the table in trying to make everything as perfect as it can be.

If you work with him, you’ll be working with a person of integrity and courage, but you’ll also have a good time. There’s a playfulness to his professionalism that, at least in my opinion, is a valuable asset when things get tough.

If you work with him, you’ll be working with someone who’s done some of the finest work in the world.

If you work with him, you’ll be working with one of the very best creatives. He’ll never tell you that, but I will.

Talent, passion, resilience, optimism, laughs. You’ll get all these things if you work with him.

And you really should work with him.

John MescallPresident Global Creative CommunityMcCann WorldgroupNew York United States

Pat was always also an avid supporter of the work we’ve done in Sydney and he worked tirelessly to bring the rest of the McCann creative community in Australia closer together through his leadership. Always looking to connect talent across offices, encouraging cross pollination of the work to make each other better.

I believe what sets Pat apart from other CCO’s is his attention and commitment to the people doing the work. There is a difference between craftsmanship and leadership, but Pat excels in both. He has never been afraid to appropriately hold me to his own high standard.

I will end on just one point.

I admire Pat professionally and as a family man. He’s a formidable creative and a true leader, but his family always comes first.

Pat’s character is beyond reproach. He is honest, inspirational and as trustworthy as you could possibly wish for in a leader and I am happy to expand on this if required.

Jerker FagerströmChief Creative OfficerThinkerbellSydney Australia

I’m privileged to have known and worked with Pat for almost 30 years now, since we were first paired up as a creative team at McCann Melbourne in the 90’s.

My creative work and craft took a giant leap forward with Pat and landed me the first awards of my career. For anyone who’s worked with Pat and know of his talent, ambition and meticulous standards, none of this would be a surprise.

I was lucky to then be able to bring Pat back to McCann Melbourne a decade later in 2011, after I’d made the awkward career jump from creative to CEO. My plan was to get Pat to make me look good all over again. And boy did that work out.

This time I partnered Pat with the equally ridiculously talented John Mescall. Soon the agency was ranked by the Gunn Report as the number one agency in the world and named Agency of the Year by Campaign Brief Australia. And today there are 53 Cannes lions and 6 Cannes Grand Prix in McCann’s Melbourne office with Pat’s name on them, amongst countless other trophies.

Hell, I’ve taken more ebullient steps up to award stages around the world with Pat than with anyone else in the world. But fame hasn’t changed him one bit while it’s followed him every step of the way. He’s served as an International Board of Director at the One Club for Creativity and was Chairman of the McCann Asia Pacific Creative Council.

He’s been listed by Advertising Age as the world’s #1 Creative Director. He was the inaugural Creative of the Year at the Australian Creative & Effectiveness AC&E awards and Campaign Magazine APAC Australian Creative of the Year. Throughout it all though, Pat has remained as humble and as hungry as ever.

Ben LilleyCreative ChairmanHERO GroupMelbourne Australia

Pat is one of the most complete creatives I have had the pleasure to work with.

Part artist, part scientist and part magician.

Pat is a creative leader, who understands the nuance of solving complex business problems by making them the currency of culture.

He is a rare breed of creative who understands business, is a fantastic leader, can see and develop exceptional ideas but is also is a master craftsman.

Ash FarrEVP Global Strategy DirectorMcCann WorldgroupNew YorkUnited States

I am so lucky to have to opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most top and amazing creative talents in the world.

And Pat Baron is one of these people.

He has been a mentor, an advisor and an provocateur and a friend to push creative to the next level.

Roshni Hegerman Managing DirectorMcCann WorldgroupSydney Australia

Pat is a born leader, and inspiring boss and talented creative.

A true champion of ideas, he knows when to get behind the right ones and push them all the way to excellence.

Every clients ally.

Pat is a smooth operator in the boardroom and every clients ally, he builds lasting business relationships that help agencies grow and thrive.

But above all, he’s a nice bloke who you enjoy spending time outside the office with. I’d be happy to recommend him to anyone and welcome the opportunity to chat further in person.

Iggy Rodriguez
Group Creative Director
RGA Los Angeles Unites States