From Dion Appel's resignation from DDB to ex-Ten boss James Warburton getting back in the media game, it's been a big week in adland. Check out all the moves across media, marketing and advertising.
Andy Pontin to step down as Clemenger Sydney CEO
After nine years at the helm, Andy Pontin has decided to step down as CEO of Clemenger Sydney. He will continue with the agency until June 2018 to ensure a seamless transition to his replacement. Clemenger Group executive chairmain Robert Morgan says the business has had "great success" under his leadership. Pontin joined Clemenger in 2005, initially running the group’s direct and digital businesses before taking over the reins at Clemenger BBDO Sydney. He has been a director of the Clemenger Group since 2009. Read more here.
Cam Blackley exits BMF for M&C Saatchi
Cam Blackley is joining M&C Saatchi as chief creative officer after nearly four years at BMF. His appointment follows the departure of Andy DiLallo at the end of last year. The position has been open since his exit. Blackley has over 20 years experience at agencies both locally and in international markets including the UK and US, holding roles at Grey and Publicis overseas. He was one of Droga5 New York's original employees, brought over by David Droga in 2008 to launch the Sydney office, which later closed, before being poached by BMF.
DDB Melbourne managing director Dion Appel departs
DDB managing director Dion Appel has departed the agency after two years in the role to "pursue other opportunities", AdNews can reveal. He joined the agency in 2015 when DDB acquired youth marketing agency Lifelounge, which he founded in 1999. DDB has not yet decided if it will replace the role, with Kate Sterling, who was recently appointed to group managing director, taking on the position in the interim. Read more here.
APN Outdoor names ex-Ten boss James Warburton as CEO
APN Outdoor has named ex-Ten chief James Warburton as its new CEO, following the departure of veteran boss Richard Herring. Warburton was most recently CEO of V8 Supercars Australia, announcing his exit yesterday after four years at the company. Reports suggest Warburton resigned after the V8 Supercars board refused meet a pay-rise request. Warburton will begin his role with APN Outdoor in January 2018, receiving a base salary of $1,000,000 per annum. Read more here.
Carat’s Ashley Earnshaw to lead investment at Amplifi
Carat’s national head of investment, Ashley Earnshaw, has been promoted to chief investment officer of Amplifi, the investment arm of parent company Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN). The move is part of a restructure that centralises the roles of investment specialists across the Dentsu Aegis Network. Earnshaw has had been Carat's national investment lead since February 2016. He joined Carat’s investment team from MediaCom in 2015. Read more here.
Lisa Wilkinson to join Ten following shock Nine exit
Lisa Wilkinson has quit Channel Nine's Today program and will soon join rival broadcaster Ten. The veteran journalist will become part of Ten's flagship panel show The Project from January 2018, with further roles to be announced in coming months. Wilkinson's exit comes after a breakdown in negotiations with the television network over the terms of a new contract. Read more here.
AJF Partnership promotes Jayne Brady to general manager
JF Partnership has promoted Jayne Brady to general manager and Susan Bird to head of operations to support the continued growth of the agency. Brady, who was the sixth employee AJF Partnership hired in 2006, will add the role of general manager to her current title of director of client services. Bird joined AJF Partnership in 2012 to run the Officeworks business, and has overseen the account for five years during which Officeworks has won numerous effectiveness gongs, including a coveted IPA Effectiveness award in London in 2016. Read more here.
Spark Foundry appoints national head of strategy
Spark Foundry has appointed News Corp's Linda Fagerlund as its new national head of strategy. In the role, Fagerlund will be responsible for leading Spark Foundry’s client strategy team across Australia. Fagerlund has held roles at Leo Burnett Sydney, News Corp, Match Media and Ikon. Spark Foundry was established earlier this year, following the global rebrand of Mediavest.
Ogilvy Brisbane bolsters creative department
Ogilvy Brisbane has appointed to senior execs to its creative department. Andy Geppert joins as head of art and Richard Taylor as creative director. Geppert was founding partner at Cummins&Partners, also holding roles at McCann, Publicis and Clemenger, working across clients, including RACQ, Tourism Queensland, BUPA, Sanofi, Virgin, Air Asia, Bank of Queensland and Weis Ice Cream. Prior to joining the Ogilvy team, Taylor had consulting roles at M&C Saatchi, WhiteGREY, and DDB in Sydney.
Ex-Campaign Palace exec forms new agency
Ex-Campaign Palace Tony Leishman and digital strategist Myke Christoffel have formed a new Melbourne digital agency. The pair aim to bring together their experience in film and video to bring brands out of the "digital abyss". During his career, Leishman has held roles at Clemenger Melbourne and Campaign Palace, which closed in 2012 after a string of client losses. Read more here.
Ipsos names Korn head of Loyalty
Ipsos Australia and New Zealand has named Richard Korn as Managing Director of Ipsos Loyalty, the Customer Experience division of the market research company. He returns to Ipsos from Hong Kong after a two-and-a-half-year stint with Customer Experience agency Albatross Global Solutions where he was Country Manager. He will lead a team tasked with helping clients understand how their brands and staff are engaging with customers and how to improve that experience.
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