As first reported on The Drum website, Billy Mawhinney is to become the new creative director at Manchester’s BJL.

He began his career with JWT and held positions with Bartle Bogle Hegarty, CDP, Still Price Lintas, Ogilvy & Mather and Faulds. He took the creative director role at Leo Burnett in 2005.

Of his latest move, Mawhinney said: “Choosing BJL wasn’t difficult. They have great clients, a talented senior team and plenty of ambition. We share the same outlook and value great insight and ideas. They invest in young creative and planning talent which impressed me and the fact  that they have control over their destiny appeals to me.”  

Mawhinney will be one of eight board members at BJL and will be responsible for a 24-strong creative department.

BJL has been without a creative director since 2006, when Ray Barrett ended his year-long stay with the agency. Unsworth said Mawhinney’s arrival would be key to the agency’s ambitious growth plans.

In separate news, health plan provider HealthSure has appointed BJL to develop its brand and communication strategy.

The Manchester-based agency will be tasked with proposition development to motivate HealthSure’s key audience - the corporate, broker and consumer marketplace.

Laura Hickman-Sparkes, brand marketing manager for HealthSure said the creative concepts will “cut-through in what is a complex environment”.

BJL director Charlotte Thompson added: “HealthSure is an ethical company with great products. As businesses and consumers alike become more cynical about the cost of national and private health provision, and more concerned about emotional and physical well-being, HealthSure answer a very real need.”