Publicis Media has appointed new national CEOs for its Starcom, Zenith and Mediavest/Spark brands in Australia, as the group continues its transformation.
Current Starcom Sydney MD Toby Barbour, who joined Starcom in 2013 as client services director and was promoted to Sydney managing director in 2015, now becomes national CEO of Starcom Australia.
Also promoted is MD of Zenith Melbourne Nickie Scriven. Scriven, who joined Zenith in 2014 and was previously head of marketing and brand at AustralianSuper, is now national CEO of Zenith Australia.
Scriven says fuelled by the wins of Aldi and Tennis Australia last year, the role of media agencies is as important as ever.
“Zenith drives open, strategic and collaborative partnerships with our clients and the media. As the ROI agency, we need to help our clients navigate an ever-complex media environment,” she says.
“To do this we have to be true partners that behave as an extension of their business. I look forward to leading our amazing people to deliver on this promise, with an open mind, integrity and transparency.”
Lastly, current MD of Mediavest/Spark Australia, Sue Squillace, now becomes national CEO of Mediavest/Spark Australia. Squillace has more than 20 years’ experience in media agencies and has also worked at sister agency Starcom, OMD, Carat, Bray Media, Clemenger BBDO and Media Decisions.
Mediavest’s business grew by 50% in 2016 with wins including Monde Nissan, Ezibuy, EA Games, Foodworks, AGL digital and the retention of Diageo, as well as Kraft Heinz and Citibank all transitioning in the first quarter.
Squillace says she looks forward to further accelerating the agency's understanding of the changing consumer landscape and continually adapting and evolving its brand proposition.
Publicis Media ANZ CEO Matt James says in the newly created roles, the trio will be responsible for driving growth and innovation of their respective media brands nationally.
“The appointment of Toby, Nickie and Sue to spearhead our new leadership team for Starcom, Zenith and Mediavest represents another important pillar in Publicis Media’s transformation and momentum.," James says.
"As a brand-led organisation, the CEOs will drive growth and innovation in our business and for our clients.”
Barbour and Scriven will continue to hold operational responsibility for the Starcom Sydney and Zenith Melbourne offices respectively.
The leadership of the remaining two brands in the Publicis Media portfolio remain unchanged with Performics led by Grace Chu and Blue 449 led by John Preston.
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