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 some of the biggest moves this week.
Melinda Geertz steps down at Leo Burnett
Melinda Geertz is stepping down as CEO of Leo Burnett Australia. Emma Montgomery, currently CEO of the Sydney office, will replace her. Geertz has been in her role since 2017. Before that she was CEO of Leo Burnett Melbourne for 15 years. She started her career with Leo Burnett in Chicago before moving to Australia. In early March, Geertz announced the appointment of Montgomery as CEO of Leo Burnett Sydney. Montgomery will now take on the national CEO role in July.
Nikki Warburton departs Audi
Audi Australia has announced that chief customer and marketing officer Nikki Warburton will be leaving the business in late July. Warburton has led the product, customer and marketing departments for Audi Australia since 2018. Her role was expanded from CMO to become chief customer and marketing officer in 2019. Warburton’s successor is expected to be announced in the next few weeks. Warburton's next move is not yet known.
72andSunny leadership shake-up
72andSunny Sydney has appointed Ross Berthinussen to the role of president leading the Sydney office. His appointment comes following the announcement that Chris Kay, the agency's CEO and APAC partner, would be returning to the UK to become CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi London. Berthinussen has been executive strategy director of the office for the last three years. He has almost 20 years' experience working in leading creative companies, including Grey London and almost a decade at BBH London. He moved to Australia seven years ago as head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sydney, and joined 72andSunny as executive strategy director in 2018.
Ogilvy Network forms in NZ
Ogilvy Network NZ has named Kelly-Ann Maxwell as CEO as WPP AUNZ brings together Ogilvy’s global offerings of advertising, brand and content, experience, PR and health together into the local market. Since landing on New Zealand shores only three years ago from London, Maxwell has held the roles of Designworks CEO and then WPPNZ CEO: Creative Agencies. Joining Maxwell in the leadership team is newly appointed group creative director Chris Schofield who will be partnering with promoted group creative director Nina East. Schofield joins Ogilvy from Shine. Bringing further international experience into the Ogilvy Innovation team is Matt Oxley who is joining as customer experience and innovation director. Oxley joins the business from DDB Australia. Prior to that, he worked at TribalWorldwide London.
Publicis expands Matt Cooney's role
Publicis Groupe has expanded its chief growth officer Matt Cooney's role to take on the role of national growth and marketing officer for the Saatchi & Saatchi Australian brand. Cooney, who has led his own Sydney-based consultancy as well as previously running new business at Host (now Host/Havas), is a seasoned operator having also served on management teams at BBH, Fallon and hhcl+p in the UK. He has been instrumental in the growth of the Publicis Groupe’s ‘Power of One’ model over the past three years and will continue to work with Groupe CEO Michael Rebelo.
CHE Proximity hires Droga5 NY alumni
CHE Proximity announced the appointment of Justin Ruben as executive creative director, returning from a six-year stint in New York at Droga5 and The&Partnership New York. Leading the team in Sydney, Ruben’s creative talent will complement CHEP’s senior creative leadership team. During his time at The&Partnership, Ruben was charged with supercharging the offering of data and creativity. Prior to that, he was group creative director at Droga5. Prior to his time in New York, Ruben spent his career in Australia at BMF and Publicis Mojo.
Siimon Reynolds joins Aussie startup
Australian startup BuyersCircle has appointed advertising entrepreneur Siimon Reynolds as its chairman. Reynolds joins with a 30-year career in the business and media industry. He previously cofounded Photon Group which is now known as Enero Group and was chairman of online network OMG which was acquired by Fairfax Media.
Deloitte Digital's new creative tech boss
Digital creative consultancy Deloitte Digital has announced the appointment of Emad Tahtouh to the role of principal, leading the growing creative technology and creative assets functions of the business. Tahtouh joins Deloitte Digital after most recently leading the creative technology company Nakatomi, where he helped create some of the decade’s most award-winning work. The new role will see Tahtouh working alongside Deloitte Digital’s chief creative officer, Matt Lawson, and head of assets, Brad Milliken, to develop innovative and ownable products, services, and experiences for clients in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region.
New head of marketing at me&u
Australian mobile ordering and payment platform me&u has appointed Clementine Churchill as head of marketing as it continues to drive rapid growth and expansion in Australia and new international markets. An experienced marketing leader, Churchill joins me&u from My Muscle Chef where she led the business through 700% growth, private equity investment and multiple integrated marketing campaigns. Prior to that she was at Arnott’s Group.
Clems appoints Myer lead
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has appointed Charlotte Stevens as group business director, leading the Myer account. Stevens is returning home to Australia following a decade in London, most of which was spent at Portas Agency. During her time in London, Stevens led Sainsbury's fashion, homeware and beauty portfolios and worked across a range of retail accounts including Westfield, Clinique and Clarks Global.
Mash names first GM
Independent creative business Mash has appointed former Vice head of client services Damien Miller as its first general manager. Miller was appointed to this newly created hybrid role following an extensive local and global search. He will be responsible for client management as Mash moves into its next phase of growth and will also lead the engagement strategy for Mash’s global community of experienced creative, digital and strategic problem solvers that work across six continents and which is currently 100 strong.
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