A veteran moves on
TVNZ’s long-serving chief financial officer, Rodney Parker, has announced his resignation effective July 2016. After more than 20 years in corporate roles, Parker is returning to consulting and advisory work.
TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick says Parker has made a significant contribution to TVNZ over 17 years and is well respected throughout the industry.
“He will see out this current financial year before leaving the business in mid-July,” says Kenrick.
During his time at TVNZ Parker was the acting chief executive from December 2011 to May 2012, while retaining his CFO responsibilities.
New talent at Facebook
Natalia Bell joins Facebook New Zealand as a client partner and will be working across a range of clients in the travel, finance, auto and FMCG categories.
Bell’s career has spanned over 13 years, working for Google, Trade Me, OMD and the New Zealand Herald. With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the media industry, Bell will help clients grow their business by taking advantage of the Facebook and Instagram advertising platforms.
Spencer Bailey, head of Facebook New Zealand, says: “Clients are already turning to Facebook and Instagram as their mobile marketing platforms of choice and we continue to roll out new solutions while making it easier for businesses to engage with customers in very personalised ways. Natalia’s experience online will help us drive results for agencies and brands looking to join the new advertising revolution”.
Bell says: “With over 2.6 million New Zealanders regularly using the platform, Facebook has become one of the most exciting and innovative platforms for businesses to engage with Kiwis. As Facebook and Instagram continue to develop, I’m looking forward helping marketers and agencies tell meaningful stories through our platforms”.
Slipping on the an executive jacket
Icebreaker has appointed Carla Murphy as chief marketing and strategy officer.
Reporting to chief executive Rob Fyfe and based out of the brand’s headquarters in Auckland, Murphy will be responsible for developing all aspects of the brand’s strategy as Icebreaker looks to grow the business both in and beyond its outdoor core market.
Murphy was most recently vice president of the Women’s range at Amer Sports in the UK where she was responsible for developing the women’s business of the outdoor and winter sports brands in the portfolio, including Salomon, Arc’teryx, Atomic and Mavic. She joined Amer Sports in 2013 as brand and creative director for Nikita.
Prior to this she gained extensive experience in strategic and creative brand development, working for brands and agencies across many consumer sectors including sport, outdoor, lifestyle and grocery.
“I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to be a part of the next phase of such a pioneering brand and looking forward to re-establishing Icebreaker as the challenger brand Jeremy Moon (the founder) brought to the market,” says Murphy. “As a leader in its category and with great existing consumer affinity, Icebreaker’s return to prominence has the potential to connect beyond the outdoor consumer to all active, comfort and style conscious consumers around the world.”
Fyfe was optimistic about the skills Murphy would bring to the business.
“Carla’s skills and experience are an exciting addition to the ambitious team we have assembled from around the globe at Icebreaker. She comes to us with a great depth of knowledge in building apparel brands and consumer insight led business strategies across global markets. Our industry is changing rapidly and we are in a unique position having strong regional teams well positioned in markets across the globe, an innovative and passionate product design team based in Portland, Oregon (the hub of sports and outdoor design) and the support of a global service centre headquartered in New Zealand. Our global presence is increasing each year and Carla’s experience and skills will contribute to us continuing to innovate in the category we pioneered. On top of this she is a mad keen ultra runner and will be a brutally honest product tester.”
A nice cuppa
If you’re after a cup of tea or coffee in adland then ZenithOptimedia is the place to try after being appointed as the Bell Tea and Coffee Company’s media agency.
Stuart Rutherford, managing director of ZenithOptimedia said: “It’s fantastic to be working with an iconic New Zealand company with such an impressive portfolio of brands. We are excited about being part of the legacy of these Kiwi household names”.
The appointment took effect from 1 January.
A Red Balloon in Rotorua
RedBalloon is kicking off 2016 by ramping up its New Zealand operations. After launching redballoon.co.nz business in December 2003, the online experience retailer really only dipped its toes in the Kiwi market.
But that’s about to change with the appointment of former Tourism New Zealand employee Adam Hughes as regional product and partnerships manager to bring New Zealand tourism to life.
“I’m thrilled to join the RedBalloon team and to be working with great kiwi businesses – big and small – to increase the profile of this established brand locally,” Hughes said.
“The New Zealand travel, tourism and experiences market is incredibly diverse and offers a range of options which many tourists to the north and south islands are probably unaware. We want to open their eyes to the possibilities available as part of an New Zealand holiday, as well as experiences locals can enjoy in their own hometowns. The opportunities are seemingly endless.”
Hughes will be based in Rotorua for the first six months while he grows the local experience portfolio.
