ADELAIDE advertising agency NATION Creative has opened a branch in Canberra with four well-known locals at its heart.

John Attard, Phil Selby, Julia Unwin, and Gabrielle D’Ambrosio were left without jobs when Grey Advertising closed the doors of its Canberra office in December.

This also left some Grey clients without an agency, including CIC Australia.

However, the former Grey foursome has secured the CIC Australia business and the new office will also provide a local marketing resource NATION’s SA-based client Beyond Bank Australia.

“We had an opportunity to enter the Canberra market through Beyond Bank,” said MD Greg Knagge.

“CIC Australia and the new NATION team made it possible”.

The Canberra team, based in Allara Street, has extensive experience on the CIC brands including the highly successful Googong project, a joint venture with Mirvac.

NATION, in business for three years, has a client list including some of SA’s leading local and national brands including Beyond Bank, The University of Adelaide, Stratco, Thoroughbred Racing SA, Nippy’s, Netball Australia and Santos.

“The entry of NATION into the market will mean more choice for Canberra businesses seeking a strategy-led brand agency,” said Nagge.

“NATION’s simple, less layered structure is a deliberate departure from the traditional agency model.

“It’s this model that allows us to be more responsive, more efficient and ultimately more cost effective in everything we do for our clients.”