Movers and Shakers: Maxus, Clemenger, OMD

Dentsu Aegis Network promotes Williams to group role 

Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) has promoted Simon Williams to the newly created role of chief client solutions officer. In his new role, Williams will lead DAN's approach to client management, with a focus on market growth and increasing client engagement across the network, locally and globally. He will be responsible for continuing to drive exceptional results for clients through the networks’ key areas of capability, talent and products. Williams was previously group head of product and partnerships for Amplifi – Dentsu Aegis Network’s specialist investment and media management arm – and has worked with the group since 2011 in Australia and the UK. He joins DAN's group executive team.

Clemenger Melbourne reveals new leadership following Paul McMillan exit

Clemenger Melbourne has promoted within to replace former managing director Paul McMillan, appointing Gayle While to the newly created role of deputy CEO and Simon Lamplough to the role of managing director. McMillan exited Clemenger for the CEO position of The Monkeys new Melbourne office. He had been with the agency for 11 years. McMillan's departure came at the same time as planning director Michael Derepas, who also joined The Monkeys. Both roles will report into CEO Nick Garrett.

Maxus investment head Ricky Chanana exits for MD spot at Unruly

News Corp’s video ad tech company Unruly has appointed Ricky Chanana as managing director of its Australia and New Zealand business, AdNews can reveal. Chanana joins from GroupM agency Maxus, where he has been the national investment lead and brings more than 14 years of experience in advertising. Over the past decade, he has held several senior digital and investment roles at Maxus and MEC – the two agencies that are merging to form Wavemaker. Read more here.

OMD Melbourne MD departs

OMD Melbourne managing director Margie Reid is leaving the agency after 11 years to pursue a new challenge. Reid has been the agency’s Melbourne MD since 2014 and was previously GM and head of trading. OMD Australia CEO Aimee Buchanan and Omnicom Media Group ANZ boss Peter Horgan will oversee the Melbourne operation alongside the local leadership team until a replacement is found. “Margie’s impact on the Melbourne business has been enormous. She has led the Melbourne team through a significant period of growth and has been a key member of the leadership team,” Buchanan said in a statement. “We thank her for the amazing job she has done and wish her all the very best in her new endeavours.”

Imagination bolsters creative director spots in Melbourne 

Experience agency Imagination promoted lana Werba to creative director this week. She was senior creative producer. Joining Imagination permanently in 2016, Werba brings more than 20 years experience from Asia and Australia, across strategy, communications, content production, digital projects, live events and interactive experiences to support Imagination’s growing stable of Melbourne clients. Imagination Melbourne business director Georgina Crichton said the agency’s Melbourne footprint continues to grow as more clients look to creativity for solutions to their business problems. This week the agency received five awards at the Australian Event Awards, the national awards program for the Australian events industry. The judges’ verdicts saw the agency recognised for its innovative work with Ford and Westpac, and across the landmark Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience commissioned by the Australian Government.

Nick Durrant joins Initiative as partnerships and investment lead

Nick Durrant has returned to Mediabrands to become Initiative's national chief partnerships and investment officer. Durrant will help lead analysis and fusing of data with the agency’s national trading capabilities. He joins from News Corp, where he has been national general manager of trading for the past two-and-a-half years. Durrant has previously worked as a head of trading at Mindshare and spent six years at UM leading the Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola accounts.

Seven hires OTT video digital sales director

Seven has appointed James Bayes as digital sales director of OTT video as the network moves further into OTT delivered video content. Seven is pushing out more of its video content via OTT, including the Rugby League World Cup, Commonwealth Games and other major sports events. It will also launch a new OTT product later this year. Bayes joins Seven from Unlockd in New York, where he is senior VP of international business development, overseeing Unlockd's expansion into SVOD and OTT. He has previously worked with Southern Cross Austereo, Starcom Mediavest and OMD in London.

The Works looks to fill 15 positions

The Works is looking for 15 new people to join its Milsons Point office in Sydney. The agency, which was recently acquired by digital consultancy RXP and named in the top 15 Best Places to Work in Australia, is on the hunt for a number of creatives including copywriters, art directors and creative teams, creative project leaders (group account director equivalent), a social media manager and digital producers. The Works, which is now in its 15th year, has clients including Optus, News Corp, ING, Masterpet, Tetley and Visit Canberra. Apply here.

Nico Neumann to join Melbourne Business School

Industry voice and former attribution expert at IPG Mediabrands Sydney, Dr Nico Neumann, is joining Melbourne Business School (MBS) as an assistant professor to do research and teach marketing courses, with a focus on analytics, marketing automation and technology management – AdNews can reveal. He was most recently a senior research analyst at University of South Australia. The business school is one of the highest ranked in Australia and the world for its MBA and executive education programs, with the Financial Times ranking it number three globally for its marketing expertise in 2017.