Heralding changes
News of some big changes within APN in the past couple of days, with NZ Magazines’ chief executive and publisher Sarah Sandley leaving her role and the NBR reporting last night that eight jobs are going from within the Herald.
APN’s chief executive Martin Simons was unable to be reached, but he told the NBR he was “surprised” by Sandley’s decision, which “she had come to herself after eight years” spent in what is a high pressure role.
Elsewhere in APN, the previously separate online and print departments are coming together and while Simons wouldn’t comment to the NBR on numbers or names involved, we’ve heard feature writer Chris Barton is among those set to depart. It’s also thought there will be significant job losses in the IT department.
Simons told the NBR NZ Magazines’ circulation and marketing manager Chris Gwin had been appointed acting chief executive and publisher.
APN shares have lost 63 percent of their value in the past 12 months, it announced recently that another 100 jobs were likely to be cut on top of “the 400 eliminated in the past three years” and, after what Australasian chief executive Brett Chenoweth called a tough first half of the year for the New Zealand publishing business, it wrote its Kiwi assets down by almost A$500 million, leaving the carrying value of intangible assets in New Zealand at $200 million.
Wood for the trees
Rapp Tribal has boosted its creative clout by partnering highly regarded ex-BMF Sydney creative director, Tim Wood, with current RAPP Tribal creative director, Aaron Goldring.
Goldring will continue as creative director, digital and Tim as creative director, direct, recognising that both channels need a distinct leader. Together they will oversee a combined team of more than 20 direct and digital creatives.
Wood boasts a wealth of experience and a plethora of awards after a booming career spanning more than a decade.
Before BMF, which Mumbrella wrote about in depth recently here, he was at M&C Saatchi Sydney, sharpening his skills on top tier clients including Qantas, Optus and NRMA Insurance. But it was at BMF where he truly made his mark. Under his creative leadership the Commonwealth Bank was named the most effective financial services brand (Global Effies 2011). He has also been invited to judge AWARD and ADMA (twice) in Australia, Creative Circle in Singapore, and Caples and Echo in New York.
“The timing of Tim’s arrival couldn’t be more perfect,” says Rapp Tribal managing director, Rob Limb. “We are experiencing a period of creative influx with opportunities to produce extraordinary work for our clients and his direct expertise will ensure even more creative firepower will be used to help shape the right solutions. He is the perfect partner for Aaron and a great bloke too. I am thrilled he has joined us.”
Wood says it was Rapp Tribal’s solid business mantra, client set and reputation abroad that made it the natural choice for him when looking in New Zealand.
“After speaking with Rob and the team, I couldn’t wait to make the jump across the ditch. Rapp Tribal is entering a very exciting stage in their growth and development, and I’m delighted I can be a part of it,” he says.
Live and Direct 
Paul Hancox has been named as the new head of direct sales for TV3 and Four. He joins the TV team from MediaWorks Radio, where he has headed the highly successful national direct radio team for five years, responsible for the national direct sales revenue, as well as branded content and agency sales.
“We see Paul’s skills transferring across to the television market in the most complementary of ways and it’s no secret that with direct clients there are many ways we can arrange ourselves to make the buying of radio and television and digital more user friendly for all,” says MediaWorks group managing director Sussan Turner.
Hancox says: “I have loved working in the radio division and see this as a natural extension inside a company that continues to excite me. I have worked alongside the TV team over many years and the opportunity to now lead that team, and to work with Paul Maher and Liz Fraser, is fantastic.”
He will be based at the MediaWorks TV Flower Street offices from 3 December.
A gentleman and a scholar(ship)
Following on from the DDB and Marsden Inch scholarship announcements for Media Design School students, AUT’s Jordan Dale has won a scholarship that was put forward by bcg2 in July.
Dale not only got his entire year’s fees paid, but he’s been hired as an art director on full salary.
Techsmith
Leandri Smith has joined the tech team in a senior account manager’s role at Pead PR.
Smith graduated from Technikon Pretoria (South Africa) with a National Diploma in Public Relations and Communications in 2006.
She worked for a local consultancy in the republic before establishing her own business with clients in the professional services, technology, manufacturing and beauty sectors.
In New Zealand, she joins Pead PR from her role as communications advisor at PRINZ.
