Fin Design + Effects welcomes back head of advertising Billy Becket to Sydney

(Pictured L-R: Emily Newbould, Jesse Meha, Stephanine Pocklington, Justin Bromley, Billy Becket, Ryan Maddox, Jasmine Lewis-Humphrey, Jacob Street, Mikey Brown)

Fin Design + Effects has announced the return of its head of advertising Billy Becket to its Sydney headquarters.

Becket has returned to Australia after setting up and leading FIN’s Shanghai office and more recently, establishing FIN Los Angeles, where he spent the last five years expanding the company’s commercial footprint in the US market.

Says Becket: “Returning to Sydney and working alongside this exceptional group of people feels like a true homecoming for me, and I couldn’t be happier. Commercials have always been the heart and soul of FIN’s core business and we are dedicated to ensuring this legacy continues. I eagerly anticipate reconnecting with familiar faces and forging new relationships within the Australian creative community.”

Recent hires at FIN demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to attracting the industry’s top artistic talent to the advertising space and supporting them with an exceptional production team.

One such notable addition is Stephanie Polkington, who joined the FIN commercials crew as a VFX supervisor in late 2023. With vast experience in traditional VFX and real-time projects across Australia and internationally, Polkington adds significant strength to the team.

Says Becket: “In Stephanie’s short time at FIN, she has already become a favourite among directors and an outstanding leader within the department.”

On what attracted her to FIN, Polkington says: “Many, many things! But one of the main reasons is FIN’s commitment to providing directors and clients with innovative solutions to production challenges right from the start. They dive in immediately, from the initial design explorations to fully developed VFX tests. Their proactive and collaborative approach is truly impressive and resonates with me as both an artist and a supervisor.”

Says Mikey Brown, lead flame artist and VFX supervisor: “The past couple of years have been challenging for the industry, but we’re starting to see some excellent scripts coming our way again, which is really exciting. As an artist, I’ve always enjoyed the creative problem-solving aspect of projects, from early development through on-set work and final  delivery. Since COVID it’s been great to be able to spend more time in the room with our directors. The ability to directly interact with them is immensely valuable for the creative process.”

Supporting artists like Polkington, Brown and many others, is FIN’s incredible production team which includes VFX producers Emily Newbould and recent hire, Jasmine Lewis-Humphrey.

Says Newbould: “It’s certainly been a wild ride navigating changes in the industry over the last few years. Embracing the current climate has been an adjustment for all of us, but this shift has propelled us to constantly look for new and clever ways to approach projects of all sizes and budgets. It will be great having Billy back in the fold in Sydney. I feel privileged to be working with such a solid, supportive and motivated team and I’m excited for the many new collaborations we have ahead of us.”

On future plans for FIN, Becket says: “The advertising landscape will  continue to evolve as it always has, and we are all doing our best to adapt. Nonetheless, we  firmly believe that investing in the best talent will ultimately reward our clients and FIN in the  long run.  We remain steadfast in our commitment to this optimistic approach as we move  forward .”

Get in touch with Billy Becket here.