It's hard to keep up with all the latest moves across media, marketing and advertising, so we've made a list. Check out some of the biggest moves this week.
Initiative's Mel Fein and team jump to Accenture Song
Initiative Australia CEO Melissa Fein and her senior team of Sam Geer and Chris Colter are defecting to Accenture Song. Chris Colter, chief strategy and product officer, and Sam Geer, managing director, are going with their boss. The trio are widely regarded as rainmakers, winning pitches and pulling in the big accounts. Behind the raid is Mark Green, a founder of The Monkeys and now president ANZ of Accenture Song, self described as the world’s largest technology-powered creative group.
Snap ANZ restructures, sales director Ellie Rogers resigns
Snap's ANZ sales director Ellie Rogers has resigned from the social media company after a year in the role, amid a local restructure. Rogers told AdNews she made the decision so she can focus on building her consulting business from Byron Bay, where she lives with her family. The company’s last major round of cuts was in August 2022, when it laid off 20% of global staff and restructured its business lines. A year ago, Snap reported a 7% fall in revenue to $US988.6 million for the March quarter.
Penny Shell becomes Zenith's chief strategy and product officer
Zenith Australia has appointed Penny Shell to the newly-created role of chief strategy and product officer. Shell has been working as an independent consultant on strategy, product, brand and media, spending the last four months with the team at Zenith. Before that, she was in head of strategy, head of product and planning and chief product officer roles at multinational media agencies.
Brad Garbutt joins OMA as marketing lead
The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has appointed Brad Garbutt marketing lead, effective the end of May. He joins OMA after having worked at Dell Technologies, Apple, Network 10 and News Ltd. Garbutt will play a leading role in developing strategic marketing initiatives to promote both MOVE and the OMA and support the mission of advancing the out-of-home advertising industry in Australia.
Leadership changes at OMD Brisbane
OMD Brisbane's managing director Rob Swinton has left the agency after 20 years. Alison Costello is moving into the role. Other changes to the leadership structure is supported by Kenny Stewart who remains as group managing director Queensland and Victoria, and an evolved role for Nathan Fraser who transitions from head of group to managing partner. OMD Australia co-CEO Laura Nice said she feels fortunate to have worked with Rob Swinton for 15 of his 20 years at OMD.
Marie Conley appointed executive strategy director R/GA
Creative innovation studio R/GA Australia has appointed Marie Conley executive strategy director. She was formerly strategy partner at The Pharm/VML, leading WPP’s global partnership with Walgreen Boots Alliance, and charged with combining brand experience, customer experience and commerce to drive growth. While in the UK, she held senior strategy roles at TBWA, Fold7 and MullenLowe.
Imran Masood promoted to VP, country manager DoubleVerify
DoubleVerify has promoted Imran Masood to vice president, country manager, AUNZ. The digital media measurement platform announced a lineup of leadership appointments in the APAC region. Following DoubleVerify’s acquisition of Scibids AI, a global leader in dynamic AI activation, Rahul Vasudev will be stepping into the role of regional VP for APAC, with a focus on Scibids go-to-market. Marty Buragay joins as global director, Global Client and Agency Partnerships, APAC.
Enigma hires Ren Frise to head up digital, data and technology
Enigma has appointed Ren Frise as its executive director of digital, data and technology. Frise has more than 19 years’ experience in marketing communications and digital transformation projects working across FMCG firms, luxury and cosmetics industries, education, and various agencies. In his new role, Frise will sit on the agency’s management team, driving the digital and technology business and spearheading the digital acceleration of Enigma itself.
Fran Martin becomes Jaywing's senior brand strategist
Data, creative and performance marketing agency Jaywing has appointed Fran Martin senior brand strategist, a newly created role. Martin, based at the Melbourne office, will work across the agency’s client service, creative and paid media teams. She will work alongside brands including Online Education Services (OES), New Balance and Crocs to help generate, analyse, and distil insights while leveraging Jaywing’s expertise across data, tech, media, creative, CX, search, PR and content.
Ex-Nine Sam Brownbill and David Ross launch media agency
Ex-Nine business directors Sam Brownbill and David Ross have launched a media agency, Habitat M. Habitat M offers media buying across all channels but the focus is on strategy before execution, which comes from time spent getting under the hood of a business operationally. They see closer relationships with media suppliers as critical – involving them in the strategic process.
Channel Factory grows ANZ team by six
Channel Factory, a global contextual advertising platform for YouTube, has expanded its teams in Australia and New Zealand, hiring a sales director and five account managers. The hires include account managers Renee Fox and Anna Soucek in Melbourne; Emma Sepokas, Liana Mann and Lachlan Granville in Sydney; and sales director David Carran in Auckland.
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