Movings/Shakings: 24 July

First up is Donna O’Keeffe, appointed to the new role of agency sales directorwith responsibility for key accounts and agency representation across
New Zealand and Australia. O’Keeffe, who will lead a combined online and print sales team, previously held the position of sales director of APN
Digital and has also worked for The New Zealand Herald.

Jacqueline Freeman has been appointed sales development director with responsibility for sales product development and ensuring the APN
Sales organisation is constantly developing innovative commercial product strategies and initiatives.

Daniel Dalton has been appointed sales director – Direct and Sections, with responsibility for entertainment, newspaper inserted magazines,
and direct sales across The New Zealand Herald, nzherald.co.nz, Herald on Sunday and The Aucklander.

Making the move from New Zealand Magazines where she worked as trading manager, Karen Prendergast has been appointed sales director of APN’s Classifieds.

Andrew Miller continues in the position of sales director magazines and takes on responsibility for The New Zealand Herald‘s weekly magazine Canvas.

M&C Saatchi’s luck of the Irish

Returning home to New Zealand after 12 years in Ireland, Charlotte Sangster joins the M&C Saatchi team as group account director of retail in a move that was almost hire at first sight.

“As soon as we met it was clear she lives and
breathes retail, and that she has a strong level of strategic thinking
to back up her point of view,” says M&C Saatchi chief executive, Darryn Melrose.“Retail marketing is quite a different discipline
from brand marketing, so it’s a real coup for us to obtain someone who
is both hugely experienced, and hugely passionate about retail.”

Whilst in the Emerald Isle, she was most recently employed as business director at McCann Erickson, leading the SuperValu (Supermarket), Coca-Cola, Nestle and L’Oreal accounts, among others. Other client experience in Ireland includes Tesco, McDonalds, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Masterfoods.

Sangster says this is an exciting time for retail, which is why she was stoked at the flexibility her role allows to bring brand, digital, mobile and social solutions into any client brief.

“Digital and social media are affecting the way we
traditionally market, and we are now seeing explosive growth in
smartphone penetration. I believe smartphone’s are going to have a
material effect on retail sales in the near future.”

Sangster  replaces Lou Devine, who has recently emigrated to Melbourne.

Elsewhere in the world of M&C Saatchi hires, Sean Collier has also joined as studio manager.  Previously working as studio manager at Publicis Mojo and Y&R, Collier was most recently freelancing. Melrose says Collier has already made an impact in reviewing and improving its workflow processes.

The Wright stuff

Wright Communications has bolstered its staff number in response to a growing client base by adding three
new team members.

First up is PR practitioner Jill Dryden, who takes on the role of general manager.

Managing director Nikki Wright says the move to appoint a general manager marks an important milestone in the firm’s
evolution since its inception in 2006.

“Wright
Communications has reached the point where we need a senior person to
manage our growing client list and growing
team of skilled consultants. I am delighted to bring on board someone of
Jill Dryden’s vast experience and standing in the PR industry. Her
strategic thinking is second to none, and she will add great value for
our clients.”

Elsewhere, Jill Dryden moves to Wright Communications from Star PR, where she was a co-owner. Key clients, notably Carnival Australia,
have moved with Jill Dryden to Wright Communications. 

Rounding off the new hires are Nicolette Brown, appointed as a senior consultant,
and Jocelyn Rein as a consultant.

“Nicolette and Jocelyn have superb skill sets, with solid journalism backgrounds augmented by excellent PR agency and
contracting work across a diverse array of industries and project types,” says Wright.

Sampson and agency

The Research Agency welcomes two new staff members. An experienced research and insights professional, with 13 years client and agency experience, Greg Sampson takes the role of senior consultant. Sampson has worked in the United Kingdom and Australia for leading research agencies, supporting the growth of businesses such as Unilever, Kimberley-Clarke, General Mills and Channel 9. His most recent role was client-side in Australia at Lion Dairy & Drinks.

Having recently returned from the United Kingdom, Hayley Heathfield suits up as a consultant. She has over six  years experience across New Zealand, Australia and the UK, with a passion for brand and category strategy, pricing and promotion and consumer decision making. She’s managed international projects across markets and has worked closely with a number of FMCG clients including GSK, DB Breweries, Cadbury and Heinz Watties.

Fairfax feels the Droga5 creative spirit

Fairfax Media is launching Creative Spirit in New Zealand — a programme
designed to boost numbers of creative communications agencies employing
people with disabilities. Creative Spirit was created by advertising agency Droga5’s Sydney
office, and to-date more than 50 organisations across Australia have
signed up to participate.

Allen Williams, Fairfax Media chief executive, says the Creative
Spirit programme has been operating at Fairfax New Zealand for four
months.  Already employing two people,  he adds it has already made a significant difference to the culture of
the Auckland office.

“Creative Spirit is a perfect fit
for our business, as it not only allows us to expand our already
significant corporate responsibility efforts, but also enhances our
staff morale and office culture.

Dentsu eyes up Aegis

Tokyo-based advertising group Dentsu has made an offer to
purchase global media and marketing group Aegis Group. The deal is focused on delivering best-in-class brand,
media, digital and marketing services to clients through a fully
integrated and scalable platform.

The enlarged group will be number one in Asia Pacific, number two in
Western Europe, the fastest growing agency group in North America, the
world’s largest advertising market, and a global leader in terms of
digital capabilities and growth.

“This is a rare opportunity to combine two world-class
businesses with aligned visions and strategies and complementary client,
geographic and product portfolios, to the
benefit of shareholders, clients and our people,” says Harold Mitchell, executive chairman of Aegis Media in Australia and New
Zealand.

“Locally for us in Australia and New Zealand, it is business as usual
for the group that’s already the largest in the region. The combined
group, with aligned visions and strategies, will deliver continuity and
stability for our clients and people, whilst providing
us with increased global strength.”