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Rotation policy favoured…

…as BNZ makes some changes, OMD reels in a heavy-hitting English import, Affinity ID adds some digital grunt, and Yukfoo welcomes a stop-motion specialist. 

Bank on it

Following on from news that ASB’s general manager of marketing and communications Deborah Simpson is ‘leaving to start a business’, changes are also afoot at the Bank of New Zealand, with head of brand and corporate affairs Diane Maxwell departing to take up a role as head of stakeholder management with the Financial Markets Authority in mid-October.

Maxwell has been at the bank since 2007 when she joined as external relations manager and, according to the FMA statement, “she brings strong strategic leadership capability with senior-level experience in general management, marketing, media, advertising, stakeholder engagement and brand development”.

Ms Maxwell’s new role at FMA will provide strategic and operational management of FMA’s wide-ranging communications activities. This will include building effective relationships with a range of market participants and stakeholders including those in government, the financial sector, co-regulators in New Zealand and internationally, the media and the public.

BNZ is also currently advertising the position of chief marketing officer. External relations manager Erica Lloyd says it is a new position so no-one is leaving. But according to a source close to the bank, the marketing department has just had its second round of restructuring and new senior marketing roles are in the process of being appointed. Stephen Mockett, the bank’s chief operating officer, is also thought to be departing (the pitch that sent the business from Y&R to Sugar took place soon after he arrived).

Lloyd says she was unaware of any changes and says there is no restructuring taking place.

Taylor made

Andy Taylor, the current trading director for press at Aegis Media London, has been appointed as head of press for OMD.

He will report to fellow Englishman Steve Tindall, OMD’s trading director, and will be responsible for all trading of press, magazines, radio, out of home, catalogues and direct mail channels for clients across both OMD’s Auckland and Wellington offices.

Taylor joined Aegis in the UK in 2006 as an associate director before he became head of magazines, then press and radio, before becoming trading director for media channels.

He launched Carat’s MagazineWorks initiative in 2010 to promote the benefits of magazine advertising and was responsible for brokering commercial deals with major UK publishers.

“We are New Zealand’s largest buyer of media and have already proven our ability to deliver market leading value across our large client base through our investment in a specialist TV trading division lead by Steve Tindall who joined the agency two years ago,” says OMD’s chief executive Kath Watson. “We can now offer our clients similar trading expertise, specialist advice and excellent value across all areas of mainstream media. Andy’s appointment signals our commitment to delivering this promise. We are thrilled to attract someone of Andy’s calibre and international market experience to this unique role within New Zealand media agencies. As communication is increasingly measured by effectiveness rather than efficiency we are best-placed to lead the market in delivering investment return to clients.”

Digital depth

Chris Macdonald (left) and Anthony Gardiner

With a host of new business and significant growth within its existing account portfolios, Affinity ID has decided to add some extra grunt to its client strategy team with social media strategist (and occasional StopPress contributor) Anthony Gardiner and senior account director Chris Macdonald.

“As well as recent new wins with Mercury Energy, Les Mills International, PQ Blackwell Publishing, Trends Publishing and Fred Hollows, we’re also expanding our brand portfolios with clients such as Heinz Wattie’s, where we’ve now moved into the pet food category from our earlier work with Food In A Minute,” says Affinity’s general manager marketing services Dave Mansfield. “It’s an exciting time and it’s great to bring onboard new talent to support that growth.”

As a digital and experiential specialist, Macdonald has held senior account management and strategy roles with Saatchi & Saatchi (digital director), Saatchi & Saatchi Interactive (account director) and Tribal DDB.

Gardiner is a former social media manager for the NZ Army and Skinny Marketing, where his work included mobilising the Twitter community for the Rugby World Cup. At Affinity, he will oversee social media planning, implementation, insights and reporting.

Co-founder Geoff Cooper admits finding senior account management for a business like Affinity isn’t easy.

“Our client service people, if you could call them that, aren’t conventional suits. They’re digital planners, strategists and problem solvers who bring far more value to the table than conventional ad agency admin suits who just keep the wheels turning. Our flat structure here focuses on delivering results rather than replicating formal ad-land hierarchies. This reality means our senior staff are an eclectic mix and real team players. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds. It’s that richness of experience across a whole raft of previous business lives that adds real insight to our work.”

Affinity has also recruited Dan Gannaway, who comes onboard as account manager, returning home to New Zealand after working in sales roles with US liquor clients, and Andrew Tapper has also joined as account executive after completing his business degree at AUT.

The staff roster at Affinity now stands at close to 70.

Cut from the same Kothe

Yukfoo has welcomed new director, stop-motion specialist and lover of “small and beautiful things” Ryan Kothe to its ranks.

“He’s an intricate craftsperson who brings an designer’s eye, as well as an extremely refined ear, to each and every project he touches,” says Yukfoo’s Glen Real. “We are over the moon that we’ve managed to capture him within the Yukfoo web. We’re sure you’ll find something that floats your boat in Ryan’s whimsical reel.”

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