Movers & Shakers: Isobar, Woolies, UM

Mariam Cheik-Hussein
By Mariam Cheik-Hussein | 22 March 2019
 

It's hard to keep up with all the latest moves across media, marketing and advertising, so we've made a list. Check out the biggest moves in adland this week.

Isobar CEO resigns
Konrad Spilva is exiting the Dentsu Aegis Network-owned digital agency Isobar after 18 years. Spilva told AdNews he wants to focus more on his wife's online gifting business LVLY.com.au and continue his active involvement in other ventures including data consultancy Alkhemy and Bridge Road Brewery. The group CEO role will not be directly replaced, with current national MD Erik Hallander taking on further responsibility within the agency.

Mike Tyquin lands Woolworths media role
Former Adshel boss Mike Tyquin is heading up Woolworths new media division Cartology. The new division within the Woolworths business will be focused on targeting new and existing customers with more timely offers and content from suppliers via the businesses owned media assets. Mike Tyquin steps in as managing director, with long-standing Woolworths exec Rod Evenden as general manager of operations.

UM named Brisbane general manager
UM Australia has appointed Liam Loan-Lack to general manager of UM Brisbane, as the agency looks to strengthen its presence in the "overlooked" market. Loan-Lack moves back into a single agency after operating as a group business director for IPG Mediabrands, acting as client lead across both UM and Initiative. In his previous role, Loan-Lack’s remit was directing a large multidisciplinary client portfolio including Officeworks, ME Bank, ACTU and Specsavers.

Cummins&Partners strengthens media division
Cummins&Partners hired former Ikon Communications client service director and Myer account lead Lisa Mier who will lead the recently won $8 million Jenny Craig account. Mier’s career has spanned more than 20 years in Melbourne with experience leading major accounts such as Austereo (now Southern Cross Austereo) and Officeworks, in previous client leadership roles at OMD and Initiative.

Media Merchants nabs former Ikon boss
Former Ikon Brisbane managing director Chris Ernst has joined specialist full-service agency Media Merchants in the newly created role of commercial director.Ernst will work closely with Media Merchants media director Justine Butler as the agency looks to grow its full-service model for retailers and brands. Ernst led Ikon Brisbane through a period of growth over the past 12-months, securing the media account for retailer Amart Furniture, as well as media services for The Star Entertainment Group, a pitch run out of both its Sydney and Brisbane offices.

CHE Proximity hires ex-Marcel
CHE Proximity has appointed Clinton Duncan as brand planning director. Duncan joins from Marcel where he was the head planner for the Publicis-owned creative agency. He had previously worked as a creative director at Designworks, Moon Communications Group and brand agency THERE. His exit from Marcel follows a spate of resignations, including Marcel Sydney founder David Nobay, who left the agency last month to focus on a new venture.

MDC Partners reveals new CEO
Former Microsoft chief strategy officer Mark Penn is the new MDC Partners CEO, after his holding company, The Stagwell Group, invested $141 million for a 30% stake in MDC. The announcement ends a six-month search to fill the role vacated by former CEO Scott Kauffman. Penn will lead all day-to-day operations at MDC. He will also sit on MDC's board while remaining managing partner of the Stagwell Group.

Foxtel’s new head of brand sales
Multi Channel Network (MCN) has appointed Myles Taylor as head of Foxtel brand sales, leading the new integrated sales team across Foxtel, Fox Sports and MCN. Taylor will report to recently appointed Foxtel sales and brand partnership's director Martin Medcraf, who stepped in to lead the combine Foxtel and MCN sales team which was revealed last month. He will lead the MCN sales team in a combined sales function, focusing on driving "premium and integrated" revenue opportunities, across both broadcast and digital.

MercerBell refreshes leadership team
Public Groupe-owned CX agency MercerBell revamped its senior leadership team with week across Sydney and Melbourne. Following the appointment of Brad Bennett as executive strategy director, there have been three internal promotions. Matt Olanda is elevated to client services director, Paul Henderson becomes general manager of operations and Jessica Farrell is promoted to the leadership team as people and culture director. In addition, Toyota lead Ellie Ward is added to the MercerBell leadership team as the Melbourne office’s representative.

Mindshare names new managing director
GroupM Media agency Mindshare has appointed Kerry Field to managing director of its Melbourne office. Field has been the interim MD since September last year and first joined Mindshare when it launched 22 years ago. She was previously chief of talent, and has held other roles including head of digital, head of innovation and general manager of Sydney, working on clients such as Kimberly Clark, Kellogg, Tourism New Zealand and BP.

ARN restructures leadership team
ARN revealed new appointments and internal promotions as part of a restructure of its national commercial leadership team. ARN Melbourne sales director Nick Flood has been promoted to the role of national direct sales director. Anthony Bartram has been appointed to the newly created role of national trading director. Lauren Joyce has been appointed to the role of national strategy director. Sam Harris has been appointed Melbourne agency sales director.

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