…as Les Mills welcomes a charitable soul to the fold, Kraft says goodbye to a couple of its senior marketers, the Marketing Association announces a few newbies, Crossmark gets a new managing director and office in New Zealand, CGI gurus Lightfarm Studios and animation house Cirkus both snap up a double, and OMANZ temporarily loses a stalwart.
Young/Restless
Les Mills International, which took out the Supreme Award at the 2009 TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards, has appointed Andrew Young to the role of marketing manager. He joins from the Starship Foundation, where he was chief executive for the past seven years and communications and marketing manager for the previous five.
During his time at the Starship Foundation, he increased staff numbers by more than 50 percent and quadrupled revenue, taking the charity from an annual revenue of around $2 million to more than $10 million.
In his new role, he will lead a team of six and report through to marketing director, Vaughan Schwass.
“He is charged with developing the Les Mills brand globally, developing business strategies that will help our company grow and achieve increased market penetration,” Schwass says.
Prior to joining Les Mills International, Young was four months into what was meant to be a year-long sabbatical spending time with his family. “It was a big decision to re-enter the workforce sooner than planned,” he says. “But the call from Les Mills was too compelling.”
Glass and a half empty
Speaking of spending more time with the family, there have been a few changes at Kraft’s marketing department. Andrew Fraser, general manager of marketing at Cadbury, is finishing up and will swap the Sound of Joy for the sound of his own children for a while. Despite some recent good work with Cadbury and the Share the Joy campaign, he will probably be best remembered as the man who had to front up to the public after the palm-oil and pack size flame wars.
Marketing manager Jessica Nikora is also departing and is off to Wellington.
MAdditions
The Marketing Association recently welcomed Jo Clark to the newly created job of general manager of marketing. And there are a few more additions to announce.
Margie Sharpe has joined the MA team as business manager – inspire. As well as running her own business (Sharpe Events Limited), her wealth of industry experience includes time spent at TVNZ as their event marketing manager. At the MA Margie will look after the events within the inspire portfolio, including but not limited to, the RSVP and Nexus Awards, the Network of Executive Marketers series, We Can Create and the association’s conferences.
Marija Horvatich has joined as web marketing executive to mastermind the launch and ongoing management of the new knowledge hub at www.marketing.org.nz. She was previously working as a marketing co-ordinator for a commercial office furniture company.
Shuzanah Abdeen has also joined as CIM resource to support the roll-out of professional accreditation in New Zealand. Abdeen is a Fellow Chartered Marketer (FCIM CM) and was involved in setting up CIM in Sri Lanka. She also comes with extensive marketing experience in the retail sector in her home country.
Cross promotion
Retail marketing services company Crossmark has appointed Grant Leach as managing director of its new New Zealand office, following the recent announcement of a new structure for its executive team across Australia and New Zealand.
Leach’s appointment follows the appointment of Polly Yule to the newly created position of managing director for Australia.
Leach has over 15 years experience in professional service encompassing work in business and finance and has held a number of senior positions in international agencies including roles at Saatchi & Saatchi and Bates. He also led medium sized, fully independent communications agency Revo Group and has a strong commerce and finance background from an earlier role in corporate banking.
“We are very excited to have appointed an managing director for New Zealand. This signifies a change in how we facilitate communication with our clients, and we believe that Grant will successfully lead this change,” says Asia-Pacific chief executive Kevin Moore. “Grant’s experience encompasses a number of business areas and we believe he will be able to take our New Zealand office to the next level as we continue our commitment to facilitating effective two way communication with our clients.”
Sweetness and Light
Jason King, former director & co-founder of retouch studio, The Lounge, which is now no more, has joined CGI stills experts Lightfarm Studios as executive producer.
“From the moment we heard The Lounge was closing down, we unanimously wanted Jason onboard,” says director Simon McCormack. With over 15 years experience in retouching/post production management and a great reputation for client service, Jason will be the first point of contact, ensuring the smooth handling of all projects from brief to delivery. Thus allowing the rest of the Lightfarm team to focus on creating world class images.”
Contact him at [email protected].
Also at Lightfarm, Geraldine Schnauer recently took up the role of marketing and client manager. This move comes after 12 years client side, where she worked with Independent Liquor, Emerald Foods, Wattie’s and Fonterra Brands.
In the ring
Takapuna-based animation house Cirkus has welcomed two new performers: David Hofflich and Tiana McKenzie.
Hofflich has 15 years producing commercial content for LA production companies Ritts/Hayden, Identity, Asylum, and most recently Oktobor. “Expect a renewed focus and quality servicing to our American market,” says Cirkus ringmaster Marko Klijn.
Mackenzie is a Media Design School grad and Klijn says she “has a passion to combine her painting and drawing skills with 3D animation”.
Baby on board
Jo Davenport, who helped launch the new OMANZ, including its new brand and website, has gone on maternity leave for a few months and hopes to be back at the coalface in November.
If you have any queries regarding OOH or OMANZ, contact Phil Clemas.
