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.
OMD loses another MD as Dianne Richardson departs
OMD Melbourne managing director Dianne Richardson steps down after joining the agency nine months ago to focus on her family. In December 2018, Richardson returned to Australia from her prior role as UM Worldwide’s chief strategy officer in New York. Earlier to this, she was the executive director at Starcom. Although stepping down from her role, Richardson will continue to work with the agency next year in a consultancy role. Her exit follows the departure of Sydney MD Yvette Mayer.
Mark Pejic resurfaces at QMS
Former IPG Mediabrands Melbourne chairman Mark Pejic has resurfaced at company QMS, leadingits sports media and technology division. Pejic began his career at JWT in 1989 and spent nine years in various media positions at the agency before moving to George Patterson Bates and then Zenith Media.He took up the reins as MediaCom CEO in 2012 after a three-year stint as COO.Pejic new role will be to lead the sports business as it continues to make a play for the lucrative in-stadium advertising sector, competing with growing sports marketing agencies. Read more here.
MediaCom’s Nic Turley joins Finecast
MediaCom's chief investment officer Nicole Turley is joining Finecast/GroupM Investment team as client consultant to leverage opportunities. Turley has been with MediaCom for the past five years. She is tasked with identifying areas of growth and engaging with the TV community, as well as working with all GroupM agencies and clients to enable the integration of the Finecast offering. Read more here.
Adshel boss Tyquin departs
Adshel boss Mike Tyquin will depart the business following the appointment of a new executive leadership team set to take the post-acquisition business forward.The new team at the helm of Ooh!Media includes David Scribner as CCO who will be responsible for sales, marketing and data and insight. Scribner was previously at Virgin Australia before joining the Ooh!Media team in September. Read more here.
Naked Communications ECD exits
Naked communications, ECD, Jon Burden has had his contract terminated by the creative agency. Burden joined the agency in 2015 from his previous position as creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi, which he held for five years. Prior to his position at Saatchi & Saatchi, Burden was a creative partner at Banjo for a year after he departed The Campaign Palace. Burden’s departure comes seven months after Naked Communications’ strategy director Craig Adams exited the agency to return to London.
VMLY&R hires Alison Tilling
Alison Tilling has joined VMLY&R after serving ten years at BMF. She joined BMF in 2008 as account director and worked her way up the ranks to be promoted as head of planning in 2015. She has been a regular panellist on ABC's advertising program, Gruen, since 2015 and outspoken on a number of topics. Tilling was hired in 2018 as chief strategy officer at Y&R ahead of its merger with VML. Her official role with VMLY&R will be confirmed within the coming weeks alongside details of the broader management structure, which is currently being established. Read more here.
Harold Mitchell exits Free TV
Chairman of Free TV Australia, Harold Mitchell, has resigned following accusations by The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Over the course of five years Harold significantly developed the commercial television sector driven by leadership and advice. His departure followed allegations of withholding information from the Tennis Australia Board that he was forced to make the decision of stepping down. A hearing is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 30in Melbourne.
Cricket Australia marketer departs
Cricket Australia, executive GM of media, communications and marketing Ben Amarfio has exited his role following the restructuring of its executive team. Amarfio led the team since 2012, and was a major factor in Cricket Australia’s sponsor rebuild, following the Australian ball-tampering scandal. Amarfio also played a key role in the new deal and transition of the cricket broadcast rights from previous holder Nine, to its new home of Seven and Foxtel. Cricket Australia marketing boss Ben Amarfio departs
Publicis Sapient appoints Sarah Adam Gedge as MD
Publicis Sapient has appointed Sarah Adam-Gedge as managing director. Adam-Gedge who joins from management consultancy company Avanade Australia has had three decades of experience, previously at IBM and PwC. She is looking forward to join the renowned market leader and create significant impart with clients. Publicis Sapient appoints Sarah Adam-Gedge as MD
Enero appoints for Saatchi’s executive Ian Rowden
Enero Group has appointed Ian Rowden as non-executive director. Rowden has held marketing and advertising atCoca Cola, Virgin Group and Saatchi & Saatchi. He has led global marketing, brand stewardship, product development and subsidiary business initiatives in 68 countries. His skills will complement the current board members David Brain, Sue McIntosh and Anouk Darling.
Redengine SCC Blosters creative
Continuing to bolster the senior ranksRedengine SCC appoints Duncan Shields as creative director. Previous to this role, Shields has held senior creative positions at Y&R Group, M&C Saatchi S&E and DDB in Australia as well as RMG/JWT in London. He played an instrumental role launching Telstra’s 4G network and his work has also helped major brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, McDonald’s and Steggles.The new appointment also coincides with the return of senior digital content strategist, Paul Isbell, to the role of strategy and social media director.
Sizmek appoints GM of APAC
Sizmek, has announced the appointmented of Peter Hunter as general manager to lead the Asia-Pacific business. Hunter has more than twenty years’ experience in advertising and media, having held senior agency and digital technology leadership roles in Australia and Southeast Asia. He will take up the general manager, APAC role immediately and will move to Singapore in the new year.
RXP Group appoints Adam Donnelley as chief strategy officer
RXP Group has appointed Adam Donnelley as chief strategy officer. Donnelley joins from advertising agency The Works previously been the CSO which RXP acquired in August 2018. Prior to this he was managing partner at DDB running the Telstra account and prior to that was executive vice president, strategy for MRM/McCann, responsible for both its New York and Princeton offices. He is currently president of the Australian chapter of International Advertising Association. Additionally, RXP has appointed Charles Agee (Telstra and IBM) to the role of Group Executive, Southern Region, driving alignment and implementation of the new positioning across Victoria and Tasmania. It follows more integration between The Works and RXP group.
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.