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.
Ryvalmedia continues to grow
Digital marketing and media consultancy Ryvalmedia has added three senior hires to its team. Isabella Jackson joins as group media director, Andrea Abbondanza as SEO manager, and Sarinna Harte as media operations and systems manager. Jackson brings 10 years’ experience to the role and has previously worked at Carat and Stratosphere Agency. Harte has also worked at Carat, spending 13 years at the agency, most recently as business manager on Cadbury and Kraft accounts. Abbondanza has worked in a number of SEO roles for companies including Clix4U Digital and Supple Digital.
Former Carat director joins independent
Independent media agency MediaSmiths has hired senior media industry executive and former Carat investment director Corey Eyre as senior account planner. Eyre will be involved across a number of the agency’s key clients as well as taking the lead for end-to-end planning, buying and execution of their campaigns. Eyre has 30 years’ experience in the media industry and has worked with a range of media agencies including Leo Burnett, Optimedia and more recently MediaCom and Carat as investment director.
TBWA Melbourne names new boss as Mike Napolitano lands new role
TBWA Melbourne executive partner Ricci Meldrum has been promoted to managing director. Meldrum has more than 25 years in the industry working at agencies including Clemenger BBDO and BMF. She has spent the last six years at TBWA leading the ANZ account as the regional group head. Meanwhile, former TBWA Melbourne MD Mike Napolitano has joined DDB Group Melbourne as managing director. With more than 20 years in the industry, Napolitano has worked across categories including FMCG, automotive, financial services, government, and sport and entertainment for some of the biggest brands locally and abroad.
MediaMath country manager exits
MediaMath country manager Yun Yip has departed the adtech firm after three and a half years. Yip has previously worked at Telstra as group sales manager and Starcom MediaVest Group as senior planner.
Toby Smith from Evolve goes to Brag
Music publisher The Brag Media, which recently launched Rolling Stone in Australia, has hired Toby Smith, previously director of operations at Evolve Media. He will be head of mobile operations. Smith, who has 20 years of experience in media and web development, has delivered on business objectives at both MusicFeeds before its acquisition by Evolve Media in 2017 and in his role as Web Producer for the last 12 and a half years.
CRE8IVE makes senior hires
Integrated creative and communication agency CRE8IVE has bolstered its digital capabilities with the appointment of digital experts Andrew Mackay and Vishal Sahody. Mackay will now head up the CRE8IVE Digital division as digital director. He brings over a decade of experience in traditional and digital marketing strategy and program management, project management, and managing teams. Sahody joins as lead developer. With more than fifteen years working in the web and digital industry, he has seen the transformation of digital technology as it has integrated with business.
Bastion Brands appoints healthcare advertising veteran
Australian healthcare specialist creative agency Bastion Brands has appointed Pete Smith as its head of art. Smith brings more than 20 years’ healthcare advertising experience to the agency. He began his healthcare advertising career at Curtis, Jones and Brown as an art director, and went on to lead the agency creatively before heading overseas. Smith recently returned home after seven years in China as the regional ECD at Ogilvy Health.
INVNT Group boosts regional team
INVNT Group has made several senior hires across its portfolio of brands in Asia-Pacific. Ee Chuan Fong has been appointed as creative director for branded content studio and content marketing agency HEVĒ in APAC. A former Volcom creative director turned filmmaker, Fong has worked on brands such as Sass & Bide, Pure Blonde, and Samsung. Colin Burling Blake has been appointed as director of strategic accounts for INVNT Group APAC. Blake has held senior regional and global positions and advisory roles at brands including Nike, Coca-Cola, General Pants, MTV, and Viacom. Tim Prosser also joins as senior graphic designer for global live brand storytelling agency INVNT. Prosser joins from DDB Sydney and has worked on digital, print and OOH campaigns for brands including Virgin Australia, Volkswagen, McDonald's and Westpac.
Venetian Media Group names new boss
Independent Australian-owned Venetian Media Group has appointed Michael Fishwick as CEO. Venetian Media Group is owned by Fishwick and his father Mark Fishwick, who will now step into the group chairman role. Fishwick assumes the role after 14 years working within the company, most recently in the position of chief operations officer where he oversaw Venetian Media Group’s operations, business development, strategic partnerships, digital transformations, company acquisitions and brand. Over the past 12 months, Fishwick has repositioned Venetian Media Group from an out-of-home (OOH) advertising company to a diversified suite of media specialists, reducing its concentration of OOH advertising by 70%.
Tim Bailey joins Nine
Former Ten weather presenter Tim Bailey will join Nine’s 2GB radio in his first move since departing the TV network after 28 years. Bailey, who was one of the high-profile names to exit Ten in a round of redundancies, will appear on Ben Fordham Live and Drive with Jim Wilson weekdays.
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