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Movings / Shakings: 18 November

Expansion makes room for one more

Sparcmedia is expanding in the New Zealand market by partnering with agencies to provide an insight-fuelled programmatic offering to marketers.

The Sparcmedia Xtend partner offering helps agencies to build their data, insights and programmatic offering, allowing them to tap into the growing New Zealand programmatic market, which is expected to hit $30 million at the end of the year, according to the 2016 IAB/PwC Online Advertising Report.

​Sparcmedia will provide New Zealand advertisers and agencies with access to market leading data, audience building and targeting products to improve their advertising. Also included is access to the Sparcmedia Insights Dashboard which will help better understand their customers and derive insights to transform their clients’ marketing results across display, video, mobile, search and social.

The expansion includes the hire of Megan Hansen as account director in New Zealand. Hansen is well-known in the local media industry, having held senior client services positions in businesses including Val Morgan, Postr, Seek, Met Service and Trade Me.

Spark PR & Activate

PHD Group has announced the appointment of Dallas Gurney as general manager of Spark PR & Activate. He replaces Robin Wilson, who is returning home to the UK.

Gurney was most recently general manager of group content marketing at NZME and prior to that, spent over five years leading the editorial teams of Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport as general manager and editor-in-chief.

PHD Group CEO Louise Bond said Gurney has successfully led the business direction and people teams of prominent New Zealand organisations.

“We’re excited to have him join our business and have every confidence his depth of leadership experience and decades working across both editorial and advertising spaces will add significant value to our clients.”

A strategic hire

JWT New Zealand has handed the reins of the agency’s digital strategic direction to its new digital strategist Grant Henderson.

The position takes on a broad remit across JWT’s creative, technical/innovation and media offerings and he will report to head of planning Jaqueline Smart.

About the new recruit, managing director Simon Lendrum said: “Grant’s deep understanding of consumers, their usage of technology and digital platforms, and their experience with a brand throughout all relevant touchpoints delivers a key focus to our strategic thinking”.

Henderson brings with him 18 years’ experience in digital marketing, coming most recently from OMD where he was head of digital strategy for the Auckland office, working across key clients including Air New Zealand and AA Insurance.

Prior to this, he was with global digital agency network, Isobar, as creative director, then general manager of the Sydney office.

Trifecta at Omnicom Media Group

OMG is expanding with three senior hires across Dynamo and Resolution. 

Rachel Leyland joins Dynamo as a business director. She brings 15 years of media experience across a number of sectors; including automotive, travel, retail and charity. Leyland will be working primarily on Spark’s ome, mobile and business division as well as the Skinny Mobile and Lightbox business.

​Roxane Vosper joined Dynamo back in June of this year. It’s her third time working within the OMG network, having had prior roles at OMD and PHD. She brings 12 years of industry experience across brand and retail, including FCMG, entertainment, automobile, and QSR. Vosper will be leading the team on Gem Finance and BMW Mini.

Colin Day has also joined OMD as performance director to further build Resolution’s media business in the region. He has 10 years experience in marketing and digital media, working on large global brands across earned, owned and paid media.

Day joined the Omnicom Media Group three and a half years ago, working in London as head of performance on a global client.

Resolution’s general manager Jane Stanley said, “Colin’s experience with OMD in London is a wonderful addition to the Resolution team in New Zealand. It enables us to continue taking international best practice and combine this with emerging insights that ensure our clients are staying ahead of a rapidly changing digital environment.”

Settling down

PwC has a new home in Christchurch, following the team moving into the new PwC Centre in the CBD.

PwC Christchurch managing partner Craig Armitage said the company is excited to be in its Cashel Street centre, which has taken three years to complete.

“It’s a huge step for our Christchurch staff to be back in the CBD for the first time since the February earthquake, and in a building that exceeds the earthquake building standards in terms of safety.”

The staff of almost 100 moved out of the city and into their Burnside offices in 2011, where they spent almost six years. 

New role opens new horizons

The Instillery has welcomed Jamie Wallis into the newly created role of chief operating officer.

The role will see Wallis take responsibility for leading the group’s operations and delivery to customers as the business looks to expand its footprint globally.

Founder and CEO Mike Jenkins said Wallis is a proven executive who brings a “wealth of leadership and management experience”.

“We’re very excited to have someone of his calibre leading our operations and global expansion in the newly established COO role. Jamie has a rock solid understanding of global sales and operations which will be key as we continue to drive sustainable growth across the globe, beginning with The Instillery’s expansion into the UK in 2017.”

Acquiring a new team member

Aquire Online has a new agency sales director in Nick Paschalis.

Paschalis joins from his role as Yahoo head of direct sales. He’s also held positions with MediaOne Network, Health TV and Fairfax Media.

Acquire Online is thrilled to have Nick on board to cement its agency relationships.

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