Taking the lead
Spark has announced the appointment of Ed Hyde as the new CEO for Spark Ventures and a member of the Spark leadership team.
The appointment will be effective 1 October, with Hyde will replacing Rod Snodgrass, who will leave the telco to focus his efforts on growing a select range of New Zealand businesses.
Managing director Simon Moutter said he is pleased to have Hyde on the leadership team.
“Ed has been instrumental in the success of Spark Ventures to date, helping Rod build the Venture portfolio via a number of key roles, most recently as CEO of Qrious, our fast-growing data analytics business.
“…I’m confident Ed will take Ventures to the next level of its evolution. His move into the CEO Spark Ventures role will understandably have an impact on leadership in Qrious, which we will finalise and announce shortly.”
Prior to joining Spark in 2006, Hyde was responsible for the development of a number of start-ups in the data and mobile domain in both the UK and New Zealand and spent a number of years as GM of Mobile for Spark.
Stepping Up
Spark’s communications team as also seen a change, with Ellie Cross taking over the role of external communications manager for the consumer division of Spark.
She moves into the position as Vicky Shepherd heads across the ditch to Sydney for a new challenge.
Cross re-joined Spark in February after a couple of years in the UK, with previous roles at a a range of companies including TNS, McDonald’s Europe and Accenture.
She said she is now looking forward to supporting Spark’s home mobile and business team as external communications partner.
A new recruit
Bare PR has a new account manager in Emily Brown, whose appointment grows the boutique company’s team.
Brown will be managing and working across a range of beauty and FMCG clients.
Director Katie West said: “The media and PR landscape is rapidly changing and Emily brings both solid experience as well as enthusiasm for achieving excellent results for clients using a variety of communication tools”.
Most recently, Brown was at Hustle and Bustle and Castleford Media where she managed a number of projects spanning fashion, food and beverage.
Change of role
Auckland-based communications and digital agency Anthem has announced Georgina Maguire as its new account manager.
Maguire’s previous roles include four years as communications advisor for Tourism New Zealand and prior to that, a position at luxury travel boutique company Mr & Mrs Smith in Melbourne.
In her account management role at Anthem, Maguire will be responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies for some of the agency’s key clients.
New talent
Australasian production company Robber’s Dog has expanded its roster by signing award-winning director Alison Maclean.
Maclean is currently represented by Park Pictures in the US and Europe and is looking to work in Australasia following the release of her latest feature film, ‘The Rehearsal‘ (an adaptation of the Booker prize-winning novel by Eleanor Catton).
Over the course of her career, her work has grown to include, longform broadcast, commercials and shorts. Longform work includes episodes of critically acclaimed series Sex and the City, Carnivale, The Tudors, The L-Word, and Gossip Girl. Within commercials she has directed films for clients including, IKEA, Intel, AT&T, amongst others.
Maclean’s arrival at Robber’s Dog comes after The Rehersal reignited her interest in Australasian creative. “Having lived in Sydney for four years and been raised in New Zealand, I have a strong connection to the area that I’d like to rekindle. I had a great experience working in Auckland this past year making The Rehearsal, and I’m keen to consolidate the relationships I formed and create new ones,” she said.
“A couple of friends and colleagues in the industry recommended Robber’s Dog. I like the size of the company – they’re selective and everyone is invested. Plus, I appreciate the range of their work and interests, from advertising to branded content and TV drama.”
A fresh approach
Production company Photoplay has announced the signing of award-winning Melbourne filmmaker and installation artist Jasmin Tarasin for representation in Australia and New Zealand.
Executive producer Oliver Lawrance said: “Jasmin is a truly interdisciplinary artist, just as comfortable with interactive platforms as film direction. She has a strong vision within which her art and commercial work both thrive”.
Tarasin’s honest performance direction and intimate cinematic approach have led to success internationally not only in TVCs but across documentary, film, music videos and installations.
She was also put forward for both a NSW Premier Award and AFI award for her work on ‘Utopia Girls’.
About her move she said: “It’s a dynamic time in the commercial world right now and we can no longer rest on traditional 30sec ads alone. As storytellers, we must be more diverse, interactive and visually arresting, across many platforms. I do a lot of longform film and art installation work and commercially, moving forward, I want to marry these worlds.”
New home for creatives
New Zealand has a new photographic agency in Proof, founded by Luke White.
With the platform, White hopes to work with brilliant artists and help them to realise their very best work.
“It has been many years since we’ve seen a new photo agency in New Zealand and I think people are ready for something fresh,” said White. “The photographers are all passionate about creating beautiful, authentic stories in their work.”
The Proof philosophy is one of collaboration, inspiration and constant growth with an emphasis on creative, personal projects. The photographers share a set of values including industriousness, passion, openness and humour.
“Collaboration is at the core of what we do and I’m excited to see what creative campaigns and personal projects our first year will bring,” said While.
