It's hard to keep up with all the moves across media, marketing and advertising so we've compiled them all in one place. Check out the Movers and Shakers from this week.
NAB's trio of marketing pros
Three new senior women joined NAB’s marketing leadership team this week. The appointments are Karen Ganschow, general manager consumer marketing and customer strategy; Analisa Kirby, general manager intermediary marketing; and Suzana Ristevski, general manager business marketing and customer strategy. Ganschow joins NAB from Westpac, where she was general manager of customer relationship management and digital. Prior to Westpac she led the mobile and internet customer value proposition and the launch of key programs at Optus. Ristevski was most recently CMO and head of strategy and growth at GE. Kirby, joins NAB following acareer in marketing leadership in financial services, most recently at QIC. The three GMs join CMO Andrew Knott’s existing leadership team. Also on Knott's s team is Michael Nearhos, GM brand experience; Patrick McQuaid, GM customer data and analytics; Dylan Keith, head of marketing planning and operations. There is still one GM role vacant on the leadership team – GM digital marketing experience and innovation.
Soundcloud names Australia and New Zealand sales team
Global music and audio platform Soundcloud has appointed two sales executives based in Sydney to build and oversee brand and ad sales partnerships in Australia and New Zealand. Former Pandora executive Shaun Alexander will take on the role of commercial director, leading the team. Alexander will report to Soundcloud VP Sonia Flynn. Marta Bonzanini, previously working within Facebook's client solutions team, will assume the position of senior account manager. AdNews previously wrote about Soundcloud eyeing the Australian market, read more here.
Darren Spiller joins Host as first chief creative officer
Former DDB Melbourne chief creative officer Darren Spiller has joined Host as its first chief creative officer. Spiller left DDB after five years at the end of 2016 to pursue “international creative opportunities”, but will join Host’s team in Surry Hills. Host’s executive creative director Bob MacKintosh recently departed the business after a decade at the agency. His role will now be absorbed by Spiller as well as three other creative directors, AdNews understands. Spiller's decision to exit DBB was first on AdNews late last year.
Lavender hires David Lucas and TBWA’s Mark Cimarosti
CX agency Lavender has appointed creative heavyweights Mark Cimarosti and David Lucas as it bolsters its senior creative team. Cimarosti joins the agency after almost a decade at TBWA as creative director of its direct unit. In his new position at Lavender he will be reunited with ECD and partner Marco Eychenne, who he previously worked with at TBWA. Cimarosti says: “I’m very excited to be working with Marco again and the great team he and CD Ryan Stubna have built. It’s great to be part of an agency so dedicated to CX as clients realise just how important customer experience is to creating differential experiences.” Read more here.
Jake Mitchell exits The Australian
Jake Mitchell has left The Australian to become business and corporate development manager at Stan after less than 18 months covering the media and marketing round. In his new role, Mitchell will work with Stan's existing and new business partners to develop new commercial opportunities. Son of Chris Mitchell, the former editor-in-chief of The Australian, Jake begun his media career at the Australian Financial Review before following in his father’s footsteps at The Oz. Find out more here.
Former crikey publisher joins ABC’s Media Watch
Former Crikey publisher Jason Whittaker took to Twitter to announce his new position at ABC’s Media Watch. He will now be a story editor on the show that has previously taken aim at TV’s gambling addiction and Instagram influencers. The announcement follows his exit from Private Media, Crikey’s parent company, just over a month ago. Read more here.
Deane Hubball named as CEO of WPP’s Active Display Group
WPP AUNZ’s point of sale display and signage agency, Active Display Group, has appointed Deane Hubball as CEO. He is replacing outgoing MD David Gittus who is stepping into an executive chairman role across the WPP AUNZ group. Hubball was most recently GM of Group Business with the Blueprint Group. He also previously worked as Group CEO of Creative Instore Solutions. Click here for more.
RedBalloon lures Mastercard marketer as business shakes up leadership
RedBalloon has lured former Mastercard marketer Rapthi Thanapalasingam and Lux Group CTO Brett Raven to join the online experience retailer as it reshuffles its leadership roles. The news coincides with the exit of head of marketing Bonnie Thorn and chief technology officer Simon Farrell. Thorn’s role was absorbed by the CMO position – a first for the business. CEO Nick Baker tells AdNews the CMO and CTO roles are vital for the future growth of RedBalloon as it gears up for a big 2017. Find out more here.
Bauer boss takes throne of King Content
Former Bauer Media boss Matthew Stanton has been appointed global CEO of Isentia's content marketing agency King Content. Stanton joins from Woolworths, where he was chief transformation officer, and has led two of Australia's largest magazine publishers Bauer Media Group and ACP Magazines. He will be responsible for driving King Content’s growth across Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe. Read more here.
Telstra marketer joins Datarati
Datarati has appointed Jarther Taylor as the new CEO to lead APAC growth across the automation industry. Jarther joins from Telstra where he was the general manager of marketing, in charge of the brand's marketing planning and execution. He also held roles at IBM and HP. Jarther will be replacing the agency’s founder and technology entrepreneur Will Scully-Power who has held the MD for the past eight years. More here.
Dentsu launches investment arm Amplifi in New Zealand
Dentsu Aegis Network has expanded its global media investment arm Amplifi into New Zealand. Richard Pook has been appointed to the newly created role of head of Amplifi and will begin the role on 13 February. Pook will lead investment and manage local and global media partnerships for the New Zealand group. Pook joins Dentsu from global adtech company Exponential where he was the EMEA managing director and VP of finance in Switzerland. Find out more here.
Another top exec exits Allianz
Allianz has confirmed that another top marketer, John Myler, has left the business.
Myler had been in the chief market manager role looking after corporate strategy, marketing, e-commerce and digital, for 13 months, but within Allianz for more than 10 years.
His exit follows news Allianz group marketing manager and brand Dominic Brandon left the insurance company towards the end of 2016, recently taking up a position at PayPal. Read more here.
Initiative Sydney completes management restructure with new trio
Initiative Sydney has made several key leadership appointments, including heads of digital and partnerships, as the agency continues to transform its Australian operations. Ian Smith has been appointed head of partnerships, and will lead across the agencies partnership portfolios investment, content, activations and sport. Smith joins from IPG Mediabrand's brand experience agency Ensemble, where he was commercial director, and will continue to provide support to Ensemble, which is a highly integrated business within the Mediabrands group. Find out more here.
New York Times set to open Sydney office led by Damien Cave
The New York Times has appointed Damien Cave as its Australia bureau chief and Jacqueline Williams as its first locally based journalist as it labels Australia its “next frontier”. Cave was previously the deputy national editor for digital at The New York Times for more than 12 years. Find out more here.
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