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Movings/Shakings: 18 May

Handing over the reins
 
The Clemenger Group has announced senior management changes at the group’s public relations agency, Porter Novelli New Zealand. Managing director Strahan Wallis will transfer inter-company to the position of managing director of Porter Novelli’s Southern California region (south of San Francisco to San Diego). Executive director Sarah Williams, an eight-year veteran of the agency, has been appointed managing director, taking over from Wallis on 1 July.

Porter Novelli NZ has had a good run under Wallis’ stewardship, winning national and international awards, delivering sustainable year-on-year growth, and attracting new clients and talent.

Clemenger Group chief executive Jim Moser commended Wallis on his ascendancy up the agency ranks in a relatively short time.  

“Strahan joined us seven years ago at Porter Novelli NZ,” Moser says in the release. “In that time, he has developed from a senior account director to general manager and then managing director. Since taking over as managing director three years ago, Strahan has built an incredible team that consistently delivers quality work for their clients. This focus on excellence and retaining top consultants has led to strong growth and multiple awards. We wish him well in this next evolution of his career and look forward to his return home – he’ll always be welcome at the Clemenger Group.” 

While Wallis leaves big shoes to fill, Williams has over the last 20 years proven herself equal to the task, having previously held leadership roles at Vodafone NZ and Vector.  

“Working alongside Strahan has been a career highlight,” she says. “While the team is sad to see him go, we’re also thrilled for him.  Porter Novelli NZ is in great shape and I am incredibly excited about leading the team to the next stage. We have an enviable client list, an extraordinary team and a market leading practice. I look forward to the challenges ahead and helping our clients be successful.”

Executive director Louise Wright-Bush continues in her important role as part of the leadership team and John Frey will continue as non-executive chairman of Porter Novelli NZ. Over the coming months, the agency will replace Williams’ existing role as executive director. 

A trifecta arrives

Microsoft New Zealand has made three senior appointments to its Auckland-based marketing team. Chris Dick steps into the role of head of marketing, Pip Simeon takes the commercial marketing lead role and Bob Glancy joins as communications lead.

Chris Dick, Bob Glancy, Pip Simeon

Frazer Scott, Microsoft New Zealand’s director of marketing and operations says: “Chris, Pip and Bob are key appointments. Almost every New Zealander, in both their private or work life, is going through an exciting digital journey. These appointments are intended to drive our sales and marketing plan, and to really show New Zealanders why Microsoft is a great partner for anyone embarking on a digital transformation.”

Chris Dick – head of marketing

Dick joins Microsoft from Telstra where he led product strategy for the broadband portfolio and prior to that he led the Customer Marketing team at Foxtel. He will lead the Marketing team in supporting New Zealand organisations through their digital transformation journeys. He will be responsible for strategic direction, lead generation and creative excellence, as well as supporting Microsoft’s extensive diversity and inclusion programs.

Pip Simeon – commercial marketing lead

Simeon comes to Microsoft from Fairfax Media where she led the Customer Marketing team. As the commercial marketing lead, she will provide both strategic and tactical audience marketing leadership, driving new demand, supporting new business acquisitions, and supporting growth.

Bob Glancy – communications lead

Glancy began his career with global technology PR agency Text 100 and counts being part of the Xbox team that shook Sony’s market stranglehold as a highlight. He has worked both client side, as marketing manager of Electronic Arts, and agency side, as GM of Mango. As communications lead he will focus on sharing stories that impact on the lives of New Zealanders, positioning Microsoft as the premium partner of consumers and businesses commencing their digital journey.

A return to the Antipodes 

Facebook has announced that Will Easton has taken on the role of managing director of its business across Australia and New Zealand.

Easton has been at Facebook for four and a half years, the last two of which have been based in Singapore as head of emerging markets for Asia-Pacific.

Dan Neary, the vice president for Facebook across APAC, welcomed Easton’s return to the Antipodes.

“Will is a highly respected leader within Facebook, having previously led our AUNZ business and more recently, successfully scaling our operations in some of our biggest markets across South East Asia and India,” he said. “I couldn’t be more excited with the announcement that Will Easton will be taking on the role of managing director for ANZ. Australia and New Zealand continue to be very important priorities for Facebook and I am very confident through Will’s leadership and the partnership and support of the local team, that we will continue to add significant incremental value to our users, community and partners.”

Easton will relocate to Sydney in September for this role.

Prior to working at Facebook, he was the managing director of mobile (Asia-Pacific) for Google.

The last supper

Metro and Paperboy food editor Alice Harbourne has confirmed via Twitter that she will be leaving the Bauer-owned publications to focus on freelancing.

Harbourne joined Metro in August 2015 after a one-year stint at Tangible Media’s Dish magazine.

Last year, she also took on role of food editor at Bauer’s weekly publication Paperboy, upon its launch in October.    

Bauer is currently advertising for a replacement for Harbourne.   

Plugging into Auckland

Digital marketing company Yango, which already has offices in Sydney and Melbourne, has expanded its services across the ditch, opening an office in Auckland. 

Taking charge of the new local office is Jane Ormsby, who has been appointed country manager, following her brief stint as the commercial director of start-up Editmate. Further back in her career, Ormsby has also had stints at Young & Shand and APN.

Yango specialises in programmatic digital marketing campaigns and will no doubt be hoping to take advantage of the growing share of ad dollars being spent in this space.  

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