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.
Ikon merges with AKQA
WPP AUNZ has rolled Ikon Communications into AKQA Media to form a new data-driven media company. Ikon Communications CEO Lesley Edwards has been named as the new chief executive of the company, while AKQA Media managing director Chris Hitchcock will take the new role of national managing director.
Zenith names new head of digital
Zenith Sydney has appointed Laura Boatman as head of digital, charged with providing strategic leadership in product development and process. Boatman joins from Vizeum where she was group digital and technology director. Boatman starts later this month and will report to Joshua Lee, national head of digital and data.
GroupM elevates Claire Butterworth
GroupM has named Claire Butterworth as interim general manager of investment. She will take on key responsibilities to lead GroupM’s investment and partnerships function following the departure of former chief investment officer Nicola Lewis, who has moved to a global role within GroupM’s Addressable TV business Finecast. Butterworth was previously chief investment officer at GroupM agency MediaCom and will transition into a group role and report to CEO Mark Lollback.
Isobar's Thomas Tearle heads up VMLY&R
Thomas Tearle, the managing director of Isobar, has been appointed CEO of VMLY&R in Australia and New Zealand. He replaces Jon Bird who becomes executive chairman. Tearle joins VMLY&R as the brand and customer experience business grows, focusing on developing digital, CX and commerce capabilities. Tearle joins VMLY&R in May after seven years with digital agency Isobar, most recently as managing director, where he was responsible for the mergers of both Soap Creative and WiTH Collective into the business. He has also held senior roles with agencies in the UK and Australia including Wunderman (now Wunderman Thompson), where he led the Coca-Cola partnership.
Starcom Melbourne's new hires
Starcom Melbourne has added several new hires to the team. The staffers include Verity Martin (nee Goold) who has joined Starcom as business director for the Ego Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, Metricon and Red Energy accounts. She was previously a client partner at Vizeum, and more recently iProspect where she worked across clients including BMW, Kathmandu and MYOB. She has also previously worked at Starcom Melbourne as an account executive. Also joining the Melbourne office are Thomas Ho, Daniella Sinni and Bianca Jones as account coordinators; and Ashlee Read as a digital executive.
72andSunny promotes
72andSunny Sydney has promoted Emma Conway to head of design. She joined the creative company in 2018 and has played a role in driving the design offering and leading work for Lion, amaysim, MILKLAB, Infigen and Cover-More.
Storyation names new general manager
Content marketing agency Storyation has promoted Andrés López-Varela to general manager of strategy and operations. López-Varela joined the agency more than two years ago as head of strategy. He previously worked as global content editor at Tourism Australia, and has also worked at One Green Bean and Weber Shandwick.
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