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.
News Corp adds acquisition role
News Corp has hired Robert Ure, a former Wesfamers executive focused on acquisitions and digital, as its director of strategy and M&A. Ure and his team will be responsible for strategic planning and merger and acquisition activity across the business. The role will work closely with the executive team to guide, influence and deliver on News’ growth strategy.
RyanCap names MD for new business
RyanCap, the independent business owned by Simon Ryan, is launching a marketing and data and technology business Foxcatcher with David Gaskill as its managing director. Gaskill will be responsible for leading and growing Foxcatcher’s data and martech capability. He leaves his current role as head of product at Audience360 to join the new business. His previous roles have included national data strategy lead at Dentsu where he worked with Ryan and head of trading at AE Capital where he specialised in data science and algorithms to drive investment strategies.
Foxtel departure
Foxtel’s group director of publicity and talent relations Jamie Campbell is leaving the business this week. A Foxtel spokesperson said Campbell’s departure is “one of a number of very difficult changes at Foxtel in recent months involving valued team members”. His exit is part of Foxtel’s aim to support Foxtel, Kayo and Binge to become a more “efficient, lower-cost business”. Campbell has worked on popular shows such as Gogglebox, Selling Houses Australia, Wentworth, A Place To Call Home and Secret City.
Nova names Peter Charlton’s replacement
Nova Entertainment has named Luke Minto group commercial director, replacing the network’s chief commercial officer role which was held by Peter Charlton since 2018. Minto steps into the newly-created role from his position as Sydney commercial director which he held for seven years. Minto, who has been with Nova since 2004, will now have joint responsibility, along with national commercial strategy director Kate Murphy and group yield and inventory manager Michael Duncan, for revenue generation across all of Nova Entertainment’s platforms. He will also lead the commercial directors across the country. In addition to Minto’s promotion, Nova has named Antonell Doyle as Perth commercial director. Doyle, previously head of direct sales at Nova, will take on the expanded remit to lead the agency and direct commercial team in Perth.
Former Leo Burnett CD joins independent
Marketing communications agency Keep Left has strengthened its creative department with the appointment of Blair Kimber as creative director. Previously creative director at Leo Burnett Melbourne, Kimber brings over 20 years’ experience working in creative industries across Melbourne, London and Sydney. In his role at Keep Left, Kimber will lead the Melbourne and Sydney creative client portfolios, utilising his previous experience with local and global brands such as Honda, Nestle, Nintendo and Samsung to evolve the agency’s commercial creative offering.
Broadsheet appoints GM
Independent media brand Broadsheet has appointed Sian Whitaker to the newly-created role of general manager. Whitaker has spent the last two years working as the company's commercial director. In her new role, Whitaker will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire business, including the editorial, commercial and audience-growth departments. Before joining Broadsheet, Whitaker had a lengthy tenure at Carat Melbourne, where she held multiple roles including head of digital and head of operational performance.
Song Zu and Eardrum talents form agency
Eardrum’s Ralph van Dijk and Song Zu’s Ramesh Sathiah have partnered to form Resonance Sonic Branding, an audio branding agency. Resonance Sonic Branding will be set up as a special purpose entity. Eardrum and Song Zu will continue operating separately. The partners at Resonance have helped create strong sonic brands for major clients including Woolworths, CommBank, SBS, Etihad, Amazon.com.au and Qantas.
Facebook appoints CMO
Facebook has named its VP of product growth Alex Schultz as its new chief marketing officer. Schultz replaced Antonio Lucio who stepped down in August after two years in the role. Schultz, who has a background in online marketing and analytics, has been with Facebook since 2007 and has also previously worked at eBay in the UK. Schultz says he hopes to build on the work of Lucio in telling “meaningful, culturally relevant stories” with brands on the platform by bringing his experience in segmentation, targeting, and measurement to the marketing team.
Captive Vision Outdoor hires oOh!Media exec
Out-of-home (OOH) advertising agency Captive Vision Outdoor (CVO) has appointed senior sales specialist Sal Daoud into its newly created position of national head of sales as the company eyes a nationwide push. Daoud has made the move from oOh! Media as senior business manager where he was awarded the company’s 2019 National Sales title. He takes up the position with CVO to drive the OOH media agency’s national growth strategy.
Affinity leadership shake-up
Affinity has appointed Will Nichols as its chief strategy officer, as cofounder Angela Smith moves into a new brand role. Nichols, who previously worked at DDB Sydney’s Track as director of strategy and innovation, will be responsible for leading the day-to-day thinking across the team under Affinity’s strategy-led business model. Meanwhile, cofounder Angela Smith moves into the new role of chief brand officer. The leadership changes also see group media strategist Rob Mills promoted to the head of digital role.
Quiip restructures
Australia’s leading social media and online community management specialist Quiip has announced a restructure, promoting four staff to newly created roles. In response to business growth of 15% over the past year, Quiip has created three director roles, as well as investing in an enhanced content offering. Senior community consultant Amber Robinson has been appointed marketing director, while senior community consultants Larah Kennedy and Lauren Piro have been promoted to client services director and people and culture director, respectively. Pierette Langford will lead social content services.
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