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.
WPP AUNZ CEO exits
WPP AUNZ has revealed that current CEO and executive director Mike Connaghan will exit the business at the end of 2018, following 12 years with the business and 25 years at the network in total. Connaghan has led the business for more than a decade, previously at STW - with the role morphing into CEO of WPP AUNZ - following the holding group's merger with STW in 2016. In an email to staff obtained by AdNews, Connaghan said it was with "mixed feelings" that he announces his resignation as CEO. Read more here.
Nine director of commercial partnerships and affiliates resigns
Ian Paterson has resigned from his position as Nine’s director of commercial partnerships and affiliates. Paterson has been part of the fabric of Nine for the past 20 years and has held a number of senior management roles including sport sales director and national sales director, before being promoted to Melbourne managing director in 2011. Paterson held his role as director of commercial partnerships and affiliates since 2017 and will be leaving Nine mid-November.
Wavemaker appoint special in newly created role
Wavemaker has promoted Elaine Quirke to the newly created role of group director partnerships and creative media. She will oversee fostering new ideas, collaborative content and partnerships with media owners on behalf of Wavemaker clients. Quirke steps across from her previous role as creative strategy director, prior to joining Wavemaker she spent two years as business and strategy lead at Starcom Mediavast Group and was previously luxury and media director at The Wall Street Journal. Quirke is currently reporting to chief growth & product officer James Hier and will report to national head of content & partnerships Shivani Maharaj.
Seven West Media hire chief technology and information officer
Rainer Rhedey has been appointed Chief Technology and Information Officer for Seven West Media. Rhedey joins SWM from Fairfax Media where he was group general manager of IT. In the newly created role of CTIO, he will be responsible for Seven West Media’s IT and technology systems and infrastructure. He has been responsible for a range of areas throughout his career spanning from internal IT departments to professional services teams for systems integrators and software vendors.
Interbrand appoint chief strategy officer due to company growth
Following significant growth over the last 12 months, Interbrand Australia CEO Nathan Birch has appointed former New York-based Interbrand chief communications officer Paola Norambuena to the position of chief strategy officer. With more than 18 years’ experience across global integrated brand, marketing and creative strategies, Norambuena has curated every level of the brand experience for businesses including Microsoft, GE, Xerox, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, P&G, John Deere, AT&T, Nielsen, NBCUniversal and Mars.
McCann Melbourne assign associate creative director
McCann Melbourne has appointed Aaron Lipson to the role of associate creative director. Lipson brings a track record of helping agencies on over 30 new business wins, contributing to AdNews, Mumbrella and B&T Agency of the Year titles and the opening of new offices. He previously worked for Cummins and Partners Melbourne and has worked on brands such as Jeep, Specsavers, Reflex Paper, John West, Chobani, Tennis Australia, Nike, Home Timber & Hardware, Dairy Australia, Spring Racing Carnival, Repco and Kraft/Heinz. Lipson will take on his new role while also tutoring and lecturing at AWARD school and ADMA creative school.
Lendi appoints new chief marketing officer
Online home loan platform, Lendi, has appointed Zara Cobb as its new chief marketing officer to lead the company’s strategic marketing. Cobb brings 12 years of local and global media and marketing experience to her new role. Lendi have appointed Cobb in hopes she will use her creative, data-oriented approach to drive growth in customer acquisition, find optimisations in the customer journey and ultimately, help shape Lendi into a household name.
Opr hire new chief growth officer and make multiple promotions
Opr have released a new management structure that incorporates the introduction of a new chief growth officer and managing partners in its specialist business practices. These appointments have been created to ensure the agency evolves its communications offering and supports its strong business growth into 2019. Jacquie Potter, currently the managing director of opr Melbourne, moves into the newly created role of chief growth officer. In addition, the role of managing partner has been created to drive deep specialisation in its key practices, which has resulted in seven senior promotions. This announcement signifies a major development for opr as it sets a leadership foundation for 2019.
Merkle appoints managing director Australia and New Zealand
Merkle has appointed Ted Stites as managing director of Australia and New Zealand. In his new role, Stites will lead the growth Merkle is experiencing in the ANZ market and bring together the strategic capabilities Merkle has acquired in DWA, Columbus and Amicus Digital. He will continue to lead the APAC solutions team charged with driving growth in the region. Stites joined Merkle in 2015, holding leadership roles in the Americas and most recently as executive vice president, customer experience and marketing technology solutions in APAC. With nearly 20 years’ experience in the industry, Stites’ leadership and strategic nous will assist Merkle’s ability to deliver value through people-based marketing for clients in the region.
Snakk Media appoints Sam Bunchanan as chief commercial officer
Snakk Media has appointmented Sam Buchanan to the newly created position of chief commercial officer. Buchanan comes to Snakk Media with incredibly strong leadership credentials and industry experience having worked in blue-chip media and technology companies across APAC. Prior to joining Buchanan held several senior positions, at News Corp, Hardie Grant and Fairfax Media, leading high performing sales teams.
Pedestrian TV name Rhys Mugdan to lead Tinder Partnerships team
Pedestrian TV has named Rhys Mugdan to fill the newly created role of group partnerships manager & Tinder lead. The appointment follows the news earlier this month that Pedestrian TV announced an exclusive reseller partnership with Tinder/Match Media Group. Mugdan joins from his preious role as the senior sales lead at Snapchat, supported by Dana Fletcher, advertising and partnerships manager.
We Are Social bring in new head of strategy
We Are Social, the global socially-led creative agency, has appointed Graham Sweet as head of strategy. Sweet joins the agency with a 15-year career spanning advertising and media agencies as well as brand consulting. He most recently worked at DDB Group Australia as a planning partner and prior to that, as strategy director at Bohemia Group.
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