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Movings/Shakings: 7 April

A new chapter

New Zealand Woman’s Weekly editor Fiona Fraser has resigned to take up a position as manager of corporate communications for Napier City Council. She will finish at Bauer on May 20.

Editor-in-chief Sido Kitchin said: “Fiona is a superb editor whose understanding, respect and love of her weekly readers is reflected in the magazine every week. She successfully steered the integration of New Zealand’s publishing treasure into the Bauer stable, repositioning the magazine to be true to its lovely heritage heart – and it’s thriving.”

The move to Hawke’s Bay is a new chapter for Fraser who says she is lucky to have had a fantastic 12 years at the magazine.

“It’s been a dream run, and these last two as editor of the Weekly have been tremendous fun. We’ve always been good at celebrating our successes and responding to our readers and I’m really proud of that. I’m also delighted to be leaving my favourite weekly magazine in such good health, and good hands.”

Publisher Tanya Walshe thanks Fraser for her contribution. “The latest readership increase is testament to the fact that Fiona and her team are delighting readers every week. It’s also wonderful to be able to promote internally such a stellar talent, as Alice. We are confident she will excel in this new role.”

Alice O’Connell, current associate editor, is moving up to take the helm of the magazine in May.

She said: “I’m beyond thrilled to be taking on this role at the Weekly. It’s such a well-loved title with an incredible history and a hugely talented team behind it who put it together each week.”

Five years strong 

True celebrated its fifth birthday with a wave of new hires, bringing the team to 50.

Janisa Parang joins the team as head of planning, bringing the number of dedicated planners, supporting clients and the creative, team to three.

Two weeks into her new role, Parang, ex Saatchi & Saatchi, said she is excited by the opportunity to build, and take to market, innovative ideas that make a real difference.

“I’m already experiencing first hand the fully integrated approach – with key agency talent working alongside our clients in solving their biggest business problems and then crafting brilliantly the right idea to connect with the New Zealand – and increasingly global – market.”

Managing director Matt Dickinson said True is “stoked” to have her on board.

“She offers so much to us and our clients, whether it be in a traditional planning sense, her background in and love of data or her ability on big strategic business problems. Plus she loves cricket which definitely helps.”

True’s creative department is now a team of 15 people with the arrival of Phil Parsonage, Marc Chetcuti and Rachael Macklin from Aim Proximity.

CEO Craig Pethybridge said all three have a great pedigree and a list of creative achievements that would be the envy of many.

“We’re tackling a lot more bigger briefs these days so we needed to bolster the team with some real experience.”

Another pending arrival is director, cinematographer and editor Fernando Hart. He is the fourth person to join the creative team who can shoot, edit and create 2D and 3D motion graphic material.

The account service has also grown due to the arrival of Srishti Narayan from Goodfolk and Sara Pethybridge (no relation to Craig Pethybridge). Rounding off the list of hires is Dorinda Stevens who joined as office manager.

The 50 strong team is well beyond the original plans of directors Dickinson and Pethybridge. However, Pethybridge said: “A continued focus on developing the culture and welfare of our team has meant we have navigated many of the growing pains many small businesses experience at around the 30-35 mark – having someone in-house who offers social and cultural development has been invaluable.”

Getting on board

New Zealand crowdfunding site PledgeMe has announced Jessica Venning-Bryan as its latest board member.

Currently the general manager of brand at Flick Electric, Venning-Bryan has spent 15 years advising organisations, like Lion, the Electoral Commission, Saatchi & Saatchi Global and the Sustainable Business Council, on how to engage customers with projects and brands.

​Venning-Bryan is also the founder and trustee of the not-for-profit Cultivate Mentoring Lab that partners early to mid-career women with experienced mentors to help them grow their confidence and progress equally at work.

She says it’s a great privilege and responsibility to be part of a platform that supports New Zealanders to realise their aspirations.

“I love the thrill of building businesses and brands. There’s nothing quite like growing a young idea into a flourishing, sustainable, impactful business.”

Co-Founder of PledgeMe Anna Guenther said: “We’re really excited by Jessica’s energy, deep experience in marketing and branding, and her values aligned approach to business (and life). We think that having her voice around the board table will make us a stronger brand, and better people.”

It takes two

Husband and wife team Cameron and Debbie Harrison have launched Casual Fridays, a marketing agency that offers copywriting, graphic and web design and marketing packages to SMEs.

Former journalist and magazine editor Debbie Harrison has been working as a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant for four years. After numerous requests from clients enquiring about good graphic designers and website developers, she realised it made sense for her husband to join her in business.

“I’ve been working with various awesome clients on copy and marketing projects, as well as a bit of PR. Having Cam by my side (literally) means we can be even more helpful to SMEs now, offering graphic design, web design and even more marketing solutions. We’re the full package, really.”

A double departure

After six years and four years of service apiece, Ad2one’s managing director Lisa Ison and sales director Johanna Cotter have decided to leave the New Zealand arm of the global digital advertising sales company Ad2one to “pursue other business opportunities”.

Natasha O’Connor, previously a contracted sales executive, has been appointed the position of interim sales director in New Zealand. She will be working with ad2one’s Sydney-based Australasian managing director Joshua Rex to find suitable replacements.

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