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.
Optus restructures marketing team
Optus has made changes to its marketing team that sees current marketing director Ben White promoted to managing director of business and wholesale, while Matt Williams joins to take on the marketing role. White has been with the telco since 2006 and led teams across consumer, wholesale and strategy. In his new role, White leads the small business and Optus wholesale and satellite teams to bring a renewed focus to the areas, which the company sees as facing increasing competition. As part of the changes, marketing is now merged with revenue and data analytics, which Williams heads up as managing director of marketing and revenue.
DDB Sydney names new managing partner
DDB Sydney has appointed former managing director of Y&R Australia and New Zealand Sasha Firth as the agency's managing partner. Firth is tasked with leading the agency's Westpac account. Prior to her role leading Y&R across the region, Firth held a number of roles in both Sydney and London at agencies including Ogilvy, BMF and Campaign Palace.
GroupM reveals new role
GroupM has appointed David Fish to the newly created role of chief client and business partner. Fish will work with the leadership and teams across MediaCom, Mindshare, Wavemaker and Essence to further develop client teams and meet changing client needs. He’ll also work with clients and their established teams to ensure integration and onboarding for new clients. Currently managing director of Media Lab, he will continue to work closely with its leadership team as it searches for his replacement.
Tennis Australia nabs Cricket Australia’s Finn Bradshaw
Finn Bradshaw is set to leave his current role as head of digital at Cricket Australia to join Tennis Australia as its new head of digital strategy. His final day with the organisation will be on April 24. Bradshaw has worked with Cricket Australia for over five years, prior to which he worked as sports editor at News Corp. Ben Wise has been appointed as acting head of digital until Cricket Australia finds Bradshaw's replacement.
Ex-Carat digital boss joins 303 MullenLowe
303 MullenLowe has appointed Michael Corry as its new head of digital strategy, adding to the agency group's growing media division. Corry, who joins MullenLowe from Carat Perth, will be based out of the agency's WA office but will work nationally within the group. With over 14 years' experience in media and digital agencies including Carat and OMD, he has also had stints on client side, working with iiNet as a digital specialist.
Accenture Interactive appoints BMF’s deputy ECD
Accenture Interactive-owned creative agency Rothco has appointed Jen Speirs as ECD. The Australian creative will join the Dublin-based agency, exiting her current role as deputy ECD at BMF Australia. As part of the appointment, current ECD Alan Kelly has been promoted to Rothco's chief creative officer. During her time in Australia, Speirs worked on major accounts for clients such as McDonald’s, Carefree, Arnott’s, Berlei and Bonds.
BBC Studios' new head of content sales
BBC Studios ANZ has promoted Deb Tod to the role of head of content sales and co-production. Tod had been acting in the leadership role during a review of the role. She will be responsible for the strategic and team leadership of BBC Studios’ content sales and co-productions in Australia and New Zealand. As part of the international sales team, she will have input into global deals, content partnerships and co-productions on behalf of the region. Tod joined BBC Studios ANZ as a senior sales executive in 2014 and moved into a sales manager role in 2015, eventually being appointed head of content sales in 2016.
Former Domain sales boss moves to Clemenger Group
Former Domain chief sales officer Tom Ainsworth has been appointed to the newly created role of CEO at eg+ Australia - Clemenger Group's production house company. Ainsworth had been with the real estate company for more than a year, and has previously worked at REA Group and News Corp Australia. In his new role, Ainsworth will lead a renewed focus on efficient creative production, content marketing and internal production capabilities.
AppNexus elevates Samuel Tan
AppNexus has expanded Samuel Tan’s role as senior director of market development AUNZ to include Japan and the Asia-Pacific. Based in Sydney, he will be responsible for go-to-market strategy across the region. His remit now includes AppNexus' growth in Singapore and Japan. Tan joined AppNexus in 2014 and has worked in various leadership roles. He’s previously worked as a management consultant at both PWC and IBM.
Audience Group expands team
Independent full-service media agency Audience Group has appointed digital marketer Robin Jensen as its new head of search. He joins the team with more than a decade of experience spanning Southeast Asia, Latin America, the US and the UK. Data analyst Ruby Riviera will join the data team as data planner. Rivera has previously held research and analytics roles with the Queensland University of Technology and worked in marketing roles at Credit Union Australia and Swift & Company Trade Group.
Quantcast shakes up team
Quantcast has appointed Craig Bonser as the commercial director of Australia and New Zealand and Richard Knott as business development director for Asia Pacific. The move follows a string of local promotions and new hires. Michael Ricciardone and Hannah Cooper have both been promoted from senior sales managers to group heads of agency sales while Reuben Vijaratnam has joined the APAC team as a regional head for Malaysia based out of Singapore.
Genero bolsters local team
Genero has bolstered its Australian team with two new hires in Sydney. Christie Poulos has joined the team as client director AUNZ, while Daria Willis joins as the business' first creative strategist across Australia and New Zealand. Poulos has previously held roles at Red Bull and King Content, working with clients including Bupa, AMP, and Lenovo. Willis brings more than nine years’ of creative and media strategy experience, most recently at BuzzFeed.
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