Dentsu lowers overtime in wake of employee suicide
Dentsu Japan has reduced the number of overtime hours workers are allowed to log each month after 24-year-old employee Matsuri Takahashi took her life due to karoshi, the Japanese term for death from being overworked. Dentsu employees are now only permitted to log a maximum of 65 overtime hours per month, down from 70 overtime hours. Japan is renowned for its hard-working culture and excessive working hours. The tragedy led to Japan Prime Minister Shinzō Abe calling for workplace reform to redress the nation's work-life balance. Some countries are trialling a reduction of weekly working hours to tackle work-life balance issues. Sweden is moving to a six-hour working day, arguing that employees aren't sufficiently productive beyond that period.
Gemba acquires Bullet sponsorship arm; expands Toyota remit
Sport and entertainment consultancy Gemba has acquired the sponsorship management component of marketing company, Bullet Marketing. As part of the agreement, Gemba will manage Toyota's sponsorship of the Tamworth Music Festival (pictured), A Day On The Green and National Tree Day. The move signals Gemba's intention to to move further into music sponsorship. Gemba chief executive Rob Mills has also been abroad in recent months sounding out further merger and acquisition opportunities to expand abroad.
News DNA launches digital-only shopping event
Stemming from the success of Vogue’s Fashion Night Out, newly formed News DNA is launching an online-only shopping event – Biggest Online Shopping Night. The event provides consumers with exclusive offers and brand discounts from more than 250 retailers on News DNA’s newly created e-commerce platform. It combines brands including Vogue, GQ, Kidspot, Home Life, Delicious, Best Recipes and Inside Out. The digital sales event will be held on Wednesday 26 October.
MEC poaches Initiative director to lead programmatic
Initiative's Greg Cattelain will return to MEC to take up the newly created role of programmatic and social director. Cattelain, currently digital client director at the IPG Mediabrands agency, will be tasked with managing MEC’s programmatic buying and cross-channel marketing services on behalf of a growing number of clients. Cattelain first joined MEC Australia three years ago and helped set up the agency’s real-time bidding and social media department in Sydney. He rose to senior digital manager before moving to Initiative in September 2015. He begins his new position on Monday and will report to MEC Australia Head of Performance Miki Clarke.
Carat hires head of innovation from Isobar
Carat Australia has hired Rob Tilt in the newly-created role head of innovation. Tilt joins from fellow Dentsu Aegis Network digital creative agency Isobar, where he was interactive lead, managing clients including ANZ, Foxtel, PayPal and David Jones. Tilt will be tasked with "bringing a fresh perspective to solving the client challenges" and reports to chief digital officer Sarah James (pictured below).
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