PwC's Nicky Bryson returns to agency life at TBWA Sydney
TBWA\Sydney has lured Nicky Bryson back to agency life following 18 months at PwC, AdNews can reveal. She joins as head of strategy and will report into chief strategy officer Matt Springate. Prior to leading brand strategy within PwC’s CMO Advisory, Bryson was a senior planner at Leo Burnett before moving to M&C Saatchi as strategy director in 2016. She's worked across a number of blue chip brands including Woolworths, CBA, GIO, Myer, Caltex, Vodafone and Nestle. Read more.
Airbnb marketing boss Ben Hallam exits
Airbnb marketing boss Ben Hallam is departing the business and relocating to Hong Kong to take up the position of VP of customer engagement at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, AdNews can reveal. Hallam joined Airbnb nearly two years ago as head of marketing before being promoted to global marketing lead last year. Prior to Airbnb, Hallam has ran the Coca-Cola account at Ogilvy & Mather Sydney for two years and held a number of senior account roles at Y&R Group in Sydney and Publicis. Read more
Virgin Australia appoints Michael Nearhos as marketing director
Virgin Australia has appointed former NAB exec Michael Nearhos as its marketing director. Nearhos has spent the last five years at NAB, most recently as the GM of brand experience. His role was made redundant at the bank following a restructure of the marketing department as CMO Andrew Knott departed. His appointment comes several months after the departure of CMO Inese Kingsmill. Her role will not replaced, instead Nearhos will lead the department as marketing director. Read more.
Joe Pollard to exit Telstra in management overhaul
Telstra CMO Joe Pollard is one of several senior execs that have been cut from the telco following an overhaul of its management. Pollard, one of Australia's most high profile marketers, joined Telstra in 2014. She was promoted in 2015 to lead the business' entire marketing function. Her role will not be directly replaced after she leaves in August. Prior to Telstra, she held a number of senior roles in the industry as both the CEO of Publicis Mojo and then Ninemsn. She also was the marketing director for Nike Japan back in 2004. Read more.
Spotify's Andrea Ingham joins BuzzFeed as head of business partnerships
Former Spotify head of sales Andrea Ingham has joined BuzzFeed as its first VP of business partnerships. Ingham will oversee brand partnerships and lead advertising solutions for BuzzFeed’s entire portfolio, including BuzzFeed Originals, BuzzFeed News and Media Brands across Australia and New Zealand. Ingham joins several months after the departure of VP of brand partnerships David Nemes. AdNews revealed earlier this week that Ingham would be leaving Spotify after nearly three years. Prior to Spotify she worked at Southern Cross Austereo where she was national sales chief for two years. Read more.
Audi names new CMO
Audi Australia has named Nikki Warburton as its new CMO, taking the reins from GM of marketing Kevin Goult, who left the luxury automotive producer last year just prior to a restructure of the business. Warburton is a former group director at the leading media company Austar United Communications, responsible for the Product, Sales and Marketing function from 2001 until its sale to Foxtel in 2012. During her time at Austar, Warburton was honoured with eight ASTRA Awards for effective and outstanding consumer campaigns to drive sales, retention or community connection. Read more.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.