From cadet to managing director
Dean Buchanan has been appointed the managing director of TRN.
This move follows May’s appointment of Jane Hastings as the chief executive of APN, a position which follows on from her previous stint as the chief executive of TRN.
Buchanan first joined TRN as chief content officer in September 2013, and he has been integral to several major changes that have occurred at the broadcaster over the last few months.
In addition to overseeing the rebrand of Classic Hits and the incorporation of cross-channel content delivery at TRN, Bucahnan was more recently also involved in the extension of the ZM radio brand onto Sky’s Juice TV.
Since his arrival at TRN from Australia, Buchanan has added a bit of competitive banter to the media landscape through his often colourful responses to interview questions (the standard PR script usually doesn’t include the phrase “grumpy old men whingeing about shit“).
Bucahnan has over 20 years in the industry, having worked as the group programme director at DMG Radio Australia for 10 years and before that at TRN for 13 years (he started as a cadet at TRN in 1985 and ended his first stint as a brand manager in 1998).
More recently, he has established a successful talent management company Plus1 involved in developing the futures of key Australian talent, including host of The Voice, Darren McMullen and radio stars, Sami Lukis and Dan DeBuf.
Writing veteran lays down his quill
Don Rood, who has served as Radio New Zealand’s head of news for 10 years, has stepped down from his post, which has been disestablished.
At this stage it is unclear why the role has been discontinued, but RNZ has created a head of content position to replace it.
Rood, who worked for RNZ in various capacities over 31 years, told Stuff that he was not sure what his next move would be.
He did, however, appear to suggest that there was more to his departure than what could be revealed. When asked by Stuff why he left, he responded: ”That’s a story for another day.”
Taking the SVOD reins
New online TV service Lightbox has announced the appointment of Kym Niblock as its managing director.
Niblock brings a wealth of experience in senior roles with global media businesses, including Foxtel, BBC Worldwide, BSkyB and Nickelodeon.
In a release, Rod Snodgrass, the chief executive of Telecom Digital Ventures, said that the team wanted someone with specific experience to manage the business.
“Now that Lightbox is on the launch pad, we wanted someone with a track record of taking fantastic content products to market and building these into large-scale businesses that deliver awesome experiences that customers love,” said Snodgrass. “Kym more than fits this bill – she has led many major, disruptive projects and, more importantly, has built a number of successful businesses in the digital and new media space. We see this appointment as a clear sign of our intent to grow Lightbox into a formidable player in online entertainment.”
Given that Lightbox will face strong competition from a host of other players in the increasingly populated SVOD market, Niblock said that she hoped to make Telecom’s new offering “one of the most recognised and loved entertainment brands in the country.”
“The reality is that the way in which New Zealanders and the rest of the world watch TV is rapidly evolving,” she said. “I’m confident Lightbox will accelerate that trend and will provide a world class viewing experience, combined with a rapidly growing list of outstanding TV shows, that will appeal to all New Zealanders.”
Lightbox also recently announced that it is currently in its invitation-only beta launch phase and has confirmed 20 further shows in its content line-up, including Orange Is The New Black, Masters of Sex, Breaking Bad, House of Cards, The Blacklist, Alpha House and Outlander.
Selling in Wellington
Bauer Media Wellington has been appointed Ros Ellison as a sales manager for Bauer Media Wellington.
The new recruit has previously held senior sales roles with Fairfax Network, TVNZ and most recently Mi9 in Wellington, and Bauer’s commercial director Paul Gardiner seemed optimistic about the impact Ellison would have the position.
“Ros has a fantastic profile in the Wellington market and her experience across the media mix will be beneficial for providing solutions to communication challenges,” says Gardiner. “Ros will be reporting to Matt Tremain, who will be supporting her from Auckland, and started with Bauer Media on the 21st of July. Ben Hill, who was in that position, remains with Bauer with responsibilities in the Auckland Market.”
Great expectations
Independent digital network, Reactive, has appointed Paul Pritchard as managing director of its New Zealand office.
Pritchard brings over 14 years in communications experience to the position, and most recently served as DDB’s digital business director, a position in which he oversaw the growth of the group’s digital offer. During his time at the agency, RAPP Tribal became Campaign Asia Pacific Australia and New Zealand Digital Agency of the Year (2012), DDB picked up its first Webby award and a number of Cyber Lions, and DDB’s Shaper program was launched.
In his new role, Pritchard is tasked with raising the profile of the agency, building partnerships with existing and new clients and maintaining the high standard of creative and technical work Reactive is known for globally—and despite these high expectations, Pritchard is enthusiastic about the challenge.
“It’s the perfect time to be leading an independent digital agency in New Zealand,” he said in a release. “New Zealand businesses are evolving to meet consumers’ digital needs and Reactive’s global reputation as a strategic digital leader backed by a truly talented team of digital customer experience experts makes us a perfect partner. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.”
Southern shift
Designworks has appointed Kerry Argus to the position of design director in the Christchurch office.
Argus has earned her stripes both internationally and locally, most recently as senior designer at Strategy, with other career highlights including a decade in London with Interbrand working on brands like Marks and Spencer, WH Smith, Waitrose and Boots. Over the years Argus has won a slew of Best awards for large and small scale identity work and packaging on well-known brands such as Cloudy Bay, Bell Hill and Kathmandu.
In her new role, Argus will work alongside fellow design director Ben Harrison to lead the design product of Designworks Christchurch, and to support Designworks’ ongoing commitment to Christchurch and Canterbury.
“Kerry’s diverse international and local experience in both large multinational consultancies and smaller design shops will bring a fresh new perspective to the Designworks offering,” says managing director Michael Prentice.
Sven Baker, chief executive of the Designworks group, said he was delighted that someone of her calibre and talent had chosen to join the group at such an exciting time for the agency.
“Kerry is one of a number of key new appointments we’re making to satisfy the growing demand for our services throughout the region,” he says. “Under Michael’s inspired leadership the business is entering an exciting period of growth and we’re really looking forward to assisting more local clients realise their ambitions.”
Search complete
iProspect New Zealand has appointed Charles Coxhead to the role of head of SEO.
Coxhead joins iProspect from Double Black Media, an agency which he founded and ran for the past four years. Clients of Double Black Media will be integrated into iProspect when Coxhead joins.
Coxhead has spent over 20 years working in digital marketing roles across News Zealand, Australia and the US. Specialising in organic search, he has worked with some of New Zealand’s best known brands.
Throughout his career in digital, Coxhead has held a number of roles in agencies and in-house. His enterprising nature saw him launch a popular blog directory and blog analytics service in the early 2000s, before Google Analytics existed, as well as an RSS news syndication service, both of which he sold.
“I’ve worked closely with iProspect for some time now and I am very excited to be joining a team with such depth and experience,” says Coxhead. “The opportunity to be part of a global team of performance driven marketers was too good an opportunity to pass up.”
Alex Radford, general manager of iProspect, says Coxhead is genuinely one of the pioneers of SEO in New Zealand, and as such has become one of the most respected and sought after SEO practitioners in market.
“To say that we are thrilled to have Charles on board would be an understatement. With Charles joining the team, iProspect now undeniably has one of the strongest and most experienced digital teams in the New Zealand market.”
A cancellation
Radio hosts Mark Kennedy and Mark Staufer have left The Sound, bringing an end to The Kennedy & Staufer Breakfast Show last Friday.
Andrew Szusterman, the MediaWorks group programme director, was disappointed in having to cancel the show, but said that it was necessary.
“We had high hopes for The Kennedy & Staufer Breakfast Show, but after five weeks on air we recognise the show is not right for The Sound,” he said in a release. “I want to thank everyone involved for their contribution, especially Mark Staufer and Mark Kennedy. This is a disappointing decision to make, but it is clearly the best decision for the station and its audience.”
Kennedy and Staufer say they’ve enjoyed their time at The Sound, but it’s time to move on.
A permanent replacement is yet to be appointed.
Cooney shifts into adland
Kieren Cooney, ex Telecom and Vodafone, has been announced as managing director of DDB Group Sydney. He will oversee DDB Group’s Sydney based businesses including DDB, Mango, Remedy and Tribal.
“Kieren has an exceptional reputation and quickly became an obvious choice when considering candidates for this role,” says Andrew Little, chief executive of DDB Group Australia. “Not only is he is an experienced and successful chief executive, but with over 20 years experience working at the forefront of some of the region’s most dynamic organisations he brings with him extensive knowledge of multiple industries including telecommunications, media, retail, banking and IT. I have no doubt that he will be a force of positive change for both our clients’ businesses as well as our own”.
Cooney has held senior executive positions at Telecom New Zealand, Leading Edge and most recently as chief marketing officer of NBN Co before, according to The Australian Financial Review, “he was ousted in the Coalition’s purge of the previous Labor-appointed executive regime” (he was also called a smart-arse by former Labour communications minister Stephen Conroy).
“I am delighted to welcome Kieren into DDB,” says Marty O’ Halloran, chairman, DDB Group Australia and New Zealand. “I have watched Kieren’s impact across the region for many years as a transformative leader at the intersection of marketing and technology.”
TEDx round two
She can speak seven languages, has published two books, her autobiography is part of a high school curriculum and she is the youngest column writer in New Zealand.
She is 14, was born prematurely with a hole in her heart, under developed lungs, weak eyesight and partial hemiplegia — an injury to her brain.
She is Muskan Devta, and both of those statements stand true. Yet her adversities are no match for her courage, proving determination and the will to triumph is more than enough to ascend even over the highest peaks.
Muskan, along with four more inspiring speakers have been confirmed for the second round of TEDx Auckland 2014. Designed to stimulate Aucklanders through storytelling, sustainable-thinking and innovation, the event will celebrate the resilience and courage of individuals who are making the world a better place through the theme of Ascending.
TEDx Auckland will be host to Muskan’s powerful story as the third annual event continues to hear from voices that have new ideas to share. Joining Muskan in the second round is David Downs and Jon Bridges of No.8 Re-Wired, Richard Easther, Vivian Maidaborn and Riley Elliott. The event is sure to create an environment of ideas worth spreading.
The full descriptions of speakers in the second round is:
David Downs and Jon Bridges – Co-authors of No.8 Re-Wired, a compendium and celebration of New Zealand inventions.
- Muskan Devta – Born with a medical condition called partial hemiplegia, Muskan has proved challenges are no obstacle to her, and at the age of 14 has accomplished plenty: column writer and author of two books, including her autobiography ‘I Dream’, now a part of her school’s Year 9 curriculum.
- Richard Easther –Cosmologist Professor and Head of Physics at Auckland University whose work includes the study of the “primordial dark ages”: a period between the end of inflation and the nucleosynthesis era, a few minutes after the big bang.
- Riley Elliot – Zoologist and Marine scientist, the self-proclaimed “Shark Man” uses high-tech science and stimulating visual imagery to explain the damaging loss of sharks to conservation.
- Vivian Maidaborn – Co-Founder of Loomio Cooperative who is passionate about working with other people to find scalable solutions to the wicked problems of our time: poverty, equal access to education and sustainable local economies.
TEDx Auckland will be at the Aotea Centre on Saturday August 16, 2014 between 10.00am-6.00pm.
A duo of Kiwi judges
Spikes Asia, the International Festival of Creativity taking place in Singapore from 23 to 26 September, has announced the jury members that will make up the juries for the various categories, and there are two Kiwis included in the panel.
Nick Garret (pictured right) , the managing director of Colenso, will represent New Zealand in the creative effectiveness category, while Y&R NZ’s creative director Gavin Siakimotu (pictured left) will sit on the film, print, outdoor and radio panel.
“We feel very privileged to be able to announce these well-known industry names as being part of our juries for Spikes Asia 2014,” says Philip Thomas chief executive of Lions Festivals in a release. “They help set the standard for this year’s awards and we will watch with interest as they debate and decide the best of creative communications in the region”
CREATIVE EFFECTIVENESS JURY
Matthew Godfrey, President – Asia, Y&R, Asia Pacific – Jury President
Charles Cadell, President, Asia Pacific, McCann Worldgroup, Asia Pacific
Natalie Pidgeon, Chief Strategy Officer, IPG Mediabrands, Asia Pacific
Nick Garrett, Managing Director, Colenso BBDO, New Zealand
Paul Roebuck, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore/Malaysia, Saatchi & Saatchi, Singapore
Rahul Kansal, Executive President, Bennett Coleman & Co, India
Ross Jackson, Asia Pacific Head Brand, Product, Client Marketing and Cross Border, Visa Worldwide, Asia Pacific
Wong Mei Wai, Head of Marketing, Vietnam Brewery, Vietnam
DESIGN JURY
Stefan Sagmeister, Designer, Sagmeister & Walsh, Global – Jury President
Dan Ellis, Regional Creative Director, S & SE Asia, Brand Union, Singapore
David Park, Creative Director, Maud, Australia
JJ (Jongjoo) Ha, Executive Creative Director, Cheil Worldwide, South Korea
Jon King, Executive Creative Director, Beacon/Leo Burnett Tokyo, Japan
Lana Roulhac, Design Director, Siegel+Gale, China/UK
Praveen Das, Chief Creative Officer, Happy Creative Services, India
Pum Lefebure, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Design Army, Thailand/USA
FILM, PRINT, OUTDOOR & RADIO JURY
Ted Royer, Chief Creative Officer, Droga5, Global – Jury President
Ajay Thrivikraman, Chief Creative Officer, Publicis, Singapore
Erick De Souza Rosa, Executive Creative Director, Lowe and Partner, Regional
Gavin Siakimotu, Creative Director, Y&R, New Zealand
Kitti Chaiyaporn, Chief Creative Director, Choojai, Thailand
Morihiko Hasebe, Executive Creative Director, Hakuhodo, Japan
Patrick Baron, Executive Creative Director, McCann Melbourne, Australia
Raoul Panes, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Manila, The Philippines
Raymond Chin, Creative Director, Wieden & Kennedy, China
Sami Thessman, Executive Creative Director, TBWAWorldwide, Hong Kong
Sonal Dabral, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra, India
Zenobia Pithawalla, Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, India
MEDIA JURY
Mark Patterson, CEO, Asia Pacific & Chairman, China, Asia Pacific – Jury President
Atiek Sudirman, Managing Director, UM, Indonesia
Jeffrey Seah, Chief Executive Officer, SE Asia, Starcom MediaVest Group, Singapore
Jun-Woo Park, Media Group Director, HSAD, South Korea
Mike Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Havas Media, Australia
Roid Sin, Chief Executive Officer, OMD, Hong Kong
Yesudas Sankara Pillai, Managing Director, Indian Subcontinent, Vizeum, India
Yusuke Suzuki, General Manager, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Japan
PR JURY
David Brain, Chief Executive Officer, APAC/MENA, Edelman, Asia Pacific – Jury President
Christina Cheang, Chairman, CMG Group, Singapore
Dilip Cherian, Founding Partner & Group Chairman, Perfect Relations, India
Hock Chuan Ong, Partner, Maverick, Indonesia
John Orme, President APAC, Porter Novelli, China
Kat Thomas, Executive Creative Director, One Green Bean, Australia
Koichiro Shima, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Creative Director, Editor in Chief, Hakuhodo Kettle, Japan
Leah Huang, Managing Director, Ogilvy PR Manila, The Philippines
