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Movings/Shakings: 20 March

Taking the lead

APN Outdoor Group has appointed Jeremy Howe to the new role of chief strategy and innovation officer.

Howe will report to James Warburton, who joined APN Outdoor as chief executive officer and managing director in January.

Warburton says the appointment of Howe to this new role is a key part of its strategy to define and accelerate the next phase of growth for APN Outdoor and continue to drive its competitive advantage.

“Jeremy has excellent strategic skills, a proven track record in driving innovation and a depth of product innovation experience across the telecommunications and media sectors. I am delighted that he will be part of the APN Outdoor executive management team.”

Howe joins APN Outdoor from Telstra Corporation, where he has been director of product innovation Telstra retail since 2016.

Howe says he is thrilled to be joining APN Outdoor during such a transformative time.

“I am excited by the business’ appetite for creativity and innovation and am very much looking forward to developing longer-term strategies and initiatives that will result in profitable returns for APN Outdoor.”

The announcement of Howe’s new role follows the appointment of Philip Knox as chief financial officer, and the appointment of Charlotte Valente as general manager, marketing. 

A pair of moves

L-R: Richard Pook, Pete Sinclair and Nick Woon.

Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) New Zealand has announced two senior appointments to its investment and programmatic team.

Pete Sinclair has been named as head of Amnet, DAN’s programmatic business, while Nick Woon has also joined Amnet as head of digital operations where he will lead all digital advertising operations for DAN.

In addition, Amnet has been brought under the Amplifi group, bringing all DAN media investment and activation under one structure in New Zealand. Amplifi is led by Richard Pook who has been promoted to general manager of Amplifi New Zealand. 

Rob Harvey, chief executive of Dentsu Aegis Network New Zealand, says repositioning Amnet as a business unit of Amplifi ensures their media investment capability is truly market leading in a world where digital programmatic and offline channels are converging.

“Richard has made a significant impact since joining us a year ago bringing a fresh commercial focus to our media investment capability, building great relationships with suppliers, and managing a highly engaged and talented team. This promotion is well-deserved recognition of Richard’s contribution to our business and expanded remit within our Group.”

Sinclair was most recently led the programmatic business for Group M Australia, based in Sydney. He says he is delighted to be part of Amnet and Dentsu Aegis Network.

“Having seen the investment in leadership, data specialists and products in recent years, I’m really looking forward to working with the team to continue to build out the Amnet business.”

Woon returns to New Zealand from the UK, where he was digital operations director for iProspect. He says having been with the Dentsu Aegis Network in the UK for a number of years it is really exciting to join the Kiwi team knowing what they have achieved.

“I look forward to supporting the brands and contributing to the vision we are all striving towards.” 

A change of role

Stuff’s national business editor, Ellen Read, will be moving to Wellington to take up a new role as finance minister Grant Robertson’s senior press secretary.

 The editor-in-chief of Stuff‘s editorial content verticals, Geoff Collett, said Read had been a popular colleague, leader and advocate for the business vertical and Stuff more generally.

“She had played an important part in building her team’s profile in the business community, particularly in Auckland. She’s going to her new role with our best wishes.” 

Stuff‘s chief news director for business, Roeland van den Bergh, will be acting national business editor while recruitment for a permanent appointment gets underway.

Flying high

Flying Fish have announced its collaboration and representation of AR/VR studio DotDot.

Flying Fish will represent the DotDot team for advertising agency enquiries, working as the production company and producer contact for all projects. The DotDot team consists of artists, software developers, game designers and hardware manufacturers working together to create the most immersive experiences possible. 

Managing director of Flying Fish James Moore says last year the most viewed commercial in the world came out of the VR space, a Clash of Clans 360 clip by its US AR/VR and animation offering Psyop.

“This space is only getting hotter which is why we are so excited to have a best-in-class local offering via the incredibly talented team at DotDot.”

With a foot in New York and a foot in New Zealand, DotDot has a proven track record with clients including Google, Samsung and locally Genesis and Te Papa.

DotDot co-founder Kate Stevenson says the company is thrilled to have representation in the local market.

“[It] frees us up to do what we do best – using game design and technology to tell unforgettable stories. And we couldn’t be happier with the team at Fish.”

Fresh new eyes

L – R: Gareth Hordyk, Tarver Graham, David Rhoades.

Gladeye has welcomed David Rhoades as general manager and Gareth Hordyk as operations director to its digital creative team.

Rhoades has relocated from Singapore. His career spans start­ups and multinational roles, including Alibaba and SingTel owned companies, as well as digital agency Sapient and Uber.

Hordyk trained in robotics in the UK and worked with storyteller Jim Henson before moving to New Zealand, alongside operations roles in software development and digital. He most recently led Fletcher Building’s digital strategy team.

Gladeye’s founder and CEO Tarver Graham says the senior hires are part of a strategy to create value through digital experiences.

“With David and Gareth we’re growing our ability to spot opportunities where emerging tech intersects with our client’s businesses and the lives of their customers, and of course Gladeye specialises in building great digital experiences that realise that potential. Ultimately we want to make more impact through our work.”

It was Gladeye’s calibre of work that attracted Rhoades to the role of general manager. 

“For over 10­ years I’ve watched from overseas as Gladeye’s reputation has grown, becoming a leading digital studio. It’s exciting to join at a time as companies around the world are increasingly seeking partners like us who are capable of helping them reimagine their digital communications and product experiences.”

Hordyk says Gladeye’s focus on business value through digital experiences was a critical factor in deciding to bring his talents to the Parnell office as operations director.

“Gladeye has a history of delivering to a level of excellence you simply don’t find elsewhere,” he says. “It’s difficult to ignore the passion the team brings to a project.” 

A strategic move 

Parnell-based production company Satellite has brought on a new head of creative strategy, Kevin Schluter.

Schluter will lead the design and content team across all Satellite disciplines, web, mobile, content creation and the growing live event technology space.

Satellite is delighted to welcome him to the team.

Most recently at True, Schluter has established a reputation as a forward-thinking, strategic, and creative lead.  

Resignation

GSL Promotus joint managing director Leigh Graham has announced her resignation from the agency, effective at the end of March.

Graham says following the merger back in 2013, this is stage two of her exit strategy, as she decides to pursue a new direction and look at new opportunities.

Graham ran Graham Strategic Limited as sole MD for 15 years and, following the merger with Promotus Advertising five years ago, has been running GSL Promotus in tandem with joint MD Sigrun Grice.

Grice says Graham has contributed hugely to this success and wishes her all the best with her future plans.  

Making the most of its toast

Wellington peanut butter company Fix & Fogg and creative agency EightyOne have teamed up.

“We’re super excited to be working with a local company that has aspirations to take on the world. We share a bunch of values with Fix & Fogg and can’t wait to start having some fun,” says Matt West, partner at EightyOne.

Roman Jewell, chief executive at Fix & Fogg, says the company is over the moon to be collaborating with EightyOne.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with their brilliant team of creative and strategic thinkers to help take our brand to the next level.”

New projects

Josh Thomson has announced he will be leaving his role as co-host on The Project to spend more time with family and focus on upcoming acting roles. He will continue to be a contributor to the programme.

Comedian Jeremy Corbett will take up the co-host role from April and will continue to host 7 Days. 

Jon Bridges, executive producer for The Project, says Corbett is the smartest and most trusted comedian in New Zealand.

“He is unfailingly and naturally funny and his 30-something years in broadcasting will make him an incredible asset for The Project.”

Also, Newshub’s political reporter Lloyd Burr has been announced as the new Europe correspondent. Lloyd is taking up the position in May.

Burr has been with MediaWorks since 2011 as a journalist and producer across TV and radio.

He says it’s a privilege to be chosen as Newshub’s new Europe correspondent.

“The bar has been set high by Tova and those before her. I’m looking forward to joining the nearly 60,000 Kiwis who currently call the United Kingdom home, and covering the stories that are important to them and their families back home.”

Burr is replacing Tova O’Brien who is returning to New Zealand in April to take up the role of political editor.

MediaWorks’ chief news officer, Hal Crawford, anticipates big things for Burr in this role.

“Lloyd has proved through his work in the Newshub parliamentary bureau that he can take it to those in power, and have a lot of fun while he’s doing it. With this posting to London, I’m looking forward to seeing him in operation on the world stage.”

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