Media company Hearts & Science has appointed Darren Stein to managing director, returning to Omnicom Media Group (OMG) after two years.
Stein, starting at the beginning of April, will lead Hearts’ growth across strategy and product innovation. He brings 20 years of senior agency and client experience covering analytics, research, data, tech and marketing strategy, most recently as global CEO of marketing advisory, strategy and analytics company, Forethought.
Having previously headed OMG’s data and analytics agency, Annalect, across ANZ, he will return to this position in addition to his new role at Hearts & Science.
Stein said: “I am so happy to be returning to Omnicom.
"By straddling Hearts & Science and Annalect we will ensure clients have access to industry-leading media optimisation and holistic measurement, and operate as close to the edge of technological capability as they are comfortable with - and the industry can achieve - at any point in time.
"Hearts & Science was built on the back of this promise and I can’t wait to evolve its next iteration for the benefit of our clients and their customers.”
Stein joins Luke Hutchinson, newly promoted to chief operating officer Australia, and CEO ANZ Jane Stanley, to lead Hearts & Science across Sydney and Melbourne.
Hutchinson will take on the daily operations of Hearts & Science across Sydney and Melbourne, he will focus on ensuring media planning and activation is delivered to the highest quality and value.
The trio is completed by Jane Stanley CEO, who took the ANZ reins in April 2022, after successfully growing Hearts & Science from scratch in New Zealand. Since joining the team, she has been busy working with internal teams and clients to build the Australian proposition.
Peter Horgan, OMG CEO ANZ, said: “Darren had an enormous impact across all our clients when he led OMG’s data & analytics offering at Annalect and we are delighted to have him working back with the team once again.
"By bringing that experience to Hearts & Science and creating a formidable trio with Jane and Luke to drive Hearts’ proposition in Australia, we will take the original and compelling Hearts & Science offering as a data-driven marketing agency from strength to strength."
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