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.
TikTok opens Australia office
TikTok has opened its first Australian office, headed up by former Google executive Lee Hunter. Hunter joins the video-sharing app as general manager for TikTok Australia. He has previously worked at Google for more than a decade, including as its global head of brand for YouTube, and spent time as CEO of an ASX-listed technology company. Joining Hunter is Brett Armstrong, also a former Google executive, who steps into the role as general manager for global business solutions. Hunter will lead the Sydney-based company with a focus on overseeing the implementation of safety policies and resources, as well as driving growth, partnerships and the local product experience. Armstrong will oversee the commercial business and focuses on brand partnerships, client solutions, business marketing and sales operations.
John Croll's new role
John Croll, the former CEO of media monitoring sector leader Isentia, has resurfaced to launch a new player, Truescope. Croll, who resigned as head of Isentia in 2018, developed the platform with business partner Michael Bade to provide breaking news across all media types and identify issues, fake news and trends in real time by using cloud-based technology and machine learning.
Hearts & Science appoints CSO
Hearts & Science, part of Omnicom Media Group (OMG), has appointed Paul Payne as chief strategy officer in Australia. He will oversee the agency's strategy and planning product at a national level, as well as support new business activities. Payne has more than 20 years’ experience in strategic roles across media, creative and branding agencies. Most recently he co-founded the ThinkTruck, a fast-moving strategy and creative consultancy. Prior to that Payne held a number of senior positions, including the role of chief strategy officer in Australia, APAC and the USA for agencies including Mediacom, and OMG companies OMD and PHD.
McCann Sydney lures Ben Coulson
McCann Sydney has appointed Ben Coulson as its new chief creative officer, replacing Darren Spiller who reportedly departed the agency at the end of last year. Coulson joins the agency from Clemenger BBDO Sydney where he had been working in a similar role since 2017. Coulson will lead the creative output across McCann Sydney’s clients, including Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Microsoft, Menulog, Nestlé, Sanofi and the government, and work with McCann national chief creative officer Pat Baron on key national creative clients and campaigns.
BWM Dentsu co-founder takes a step back
BWM Dentsu co-founder and chief creative officer Rob Belgiovane is stepping back from his day to day role after 23 years as the agency's creative lead. He decided in January that he would step back from day to day management of the agency due to personal reasons. He will continue to act in an advisory capacity for the business and its key clients including Toyota and REA Group.
PHD Australia promotes Alex Pacey
PHD has promoted Alex Pacey to the role of chief product officer for Australia. Pacey steps into the newly-created position after six years with the agency, most recently as head of implementation. He will be responsible for driving the strategic product of the agency, servicing a wide range of clients in addition to his planning remit. Pacey has almost 15 years’ experience across the industry and has worked with clients such as Google, Unilever and Fitness and Lifestyle Group. Prior to joining PHD, he worked at Ikon Communications and Universal McCann.
Near strengthens local team
Data intelligence company Near has expanded its Australian and New Zealand team as it continues to grow and streamline its data offering for marketers, publishers, and enterprises. Christian Clark joins Near as the country manager for its mobile-first audience cloud Allspark and will drive solutions for marketers focussed on Australia and New Zealand. He brings with him over a decade of experience in delivering innovative digital marketing solutions. Adam Boekeman joins the team as the country manager for Near's real-world enrichment data tool CARBON and will drive solutions for enterprise businesses. Boekeman has spent the last decade working in enterprise software with a sharp focus on helping businesses execute digital transformation.
Ogury sets up shop in Sydney
Ogury, the creator of the first advertising engine driven by user choice, announced the opening of its office in Sydney. Chris Manson will be the local managing director. Manson has held leadership and strategic marketing roles for 10 years in media agencies UM and Bohemia. Before Ogury, he had been leading one of the industry’s top digital sales teams for New South Wales and Queensland at the REA Group.
KWP makes two new senior appointments
Adelaide-based The KWP Group has welcomed two new appointments to the agency. Josh Fanning and Hollie Doran are joining as group creative director and client engagement director respectively. Fanning joins KWP from Solstice Media where he was managing publisher and creative director of CityMag – the publication he founded in 2013. Doran returned to South Australia last year after 10 years abroad. She brings experience working at Giant Spoon and DDB in New York, Euro RSCG in London and DDB in Sydney prior to that.
AAP's editor in chief steps down
Tony Gillies is leaving Australian Associated Press (AAP) after 16 years as editor in chief. The AAP newswire has been bought by a consortium headed by former News Corp CEO Peter Tonagh after the national news agency's major shareholders, competitors News Corp and Nine Entertainment, decided to go it alone with syndicated news. Gillies says he will not be joining the new venture and instead will seek opportunities outside AAP. He will hand over on July 31 to a new leadership team.
RB hires marketer for hygiene portfolio
Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has appointed Saurabh Jain as the company’s marketing director in Australia and New Zealand, to oversee its consumer hygiene portfolio. Jain joins from within the company, previously leading strategic and creative marketing activity for RB’s disinfection portfolio. He has more than 14 years of blue-chip experience, spending the last five with RB for five years. Before that, he held roles at other major FMCG and retail companies such as ITC Limited and Amazon.
Former Datorama exec joins CHEQ
Global cybersecurity solution for online advertisers CHEQ has launched in Australia and New Zealand, with the appointment of Mick O’Brien as the regional managing director. O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience in the Australian digital media and SaaS landscape. His previous positions include managing director Australia and New Zealand for Datorama, which was acquired by Salesforce, and VP sales APAC and North America for MediaMind, now Sizmek. O’Brien will be tasked with taking CHEQ’s ad-fraud and click-fraud prevention solutions to market, focusing on mid-market and enterprise advertisers and agencies.
Three key hires for The PR Group
The PR Group has made three new hires in the business. The company has welcomed Cannes Young Lion PR winner Linnéa Rinäs as account director, consumer. Rinäs' international experience has seen her head Nordic marketing for dating site Match, global marketing for VibePay as well as agency stints in Sweden and the UK. Katie Pickford has joined the company as account director, corporate and enterprise. Pickford’s enterprise and business-to-business experience includes working agency-side with Salesforce, NBN and BAE Systems. Lachlan Williams has come aboard as head of strategy and content. Williams was previously associate director of media at the Australian Council of Trade Unions and brings strategy, public affairs and content development experience honed in freelance and political work.
Sparro bolsters digital PR & content offering
Independent digital marketing agency, Sparro, has appointed Annabelle Page as its content and brand lead to grow the agency’s digital PR and creative services offering. She joins Sparro from Unity, an integrated communications agency based in London, where she led the team’s corporate accounts. Prior to moving to the UK, Page was an account director at Sefiani Communications and head of communications at Winning Group, where she worked with Sparro’s founding partners Cameron and Morris Bryant. She will play a key role in the development of Sparro’s wider media proposition.
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