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Staff sands shift at Colenso, TBWA\ and Air New Zealand, as Vodafone NZ mourns the death of a ‘driving force’

More stunning moves than Kasparov versus Deep Blue.

Going to plan

Colenso BBDO has announced the appointment of Andy McLeish to the role of senior planner, with planning director James Hurman saying he brings the winning combination of applied marketing knowledge and creative aspiration.

“Andy used to be my client and he really got the value of creativity and constantly inspired us to think in more original and adventurous ways,” he says.

Prior to his new role at Colenso BBDO Andy was with TBWA Auckland, where he was the senior strategic planner working with ASB, Sovereign Insurance, The Radio Network, Adidas and Mercury Energy. With a 15 year career on the client side, he held a variety of marketing roles, finishing up as acting head of marketing at NZ Lotteries before making the switch to agency.

“I’ve always admired Colenso and it’s great to have the chance to work with many of the best people and most interesting brands in New Zealand,” McLeish says.

Plane sailing

After eight years with Air New Zealand, Jules Lloyd, the head of creative shop, is departing for pastures unknown at the end of this week. During her time with the airline, she’s been responsible for hugely successful campaigns like ‘Cranial Billboards’, ‘Nothing to Hide’ and, more recently, the love it or hate it Rico campaign, which she believes is one of the airline’s best ideas.

“I recently decided to leave Air New Zealand after an amazing eight year journey so that I can seek out a new and exciting challenge to focus my energy and passion on,” she says.

And in another departure from the marketing innovations team, social media boffin Tom Bates had his last day on Friday and is off to start up his own business after 18 “amazing” months spent plying his trade in Fanshawe St.

Maher remembered

South Australian born Grahame Maher, Vodafone New Zealand’s second chief executive, died last week in Qatar at the age of 51. His funeral is being held in Adelaide today.

Maher was chief executive of the Qatar Vodafone operation and he is thought to passed away in his sleep after a stroke.

According to the NBR:

Maher became chief executive of Vodafone NZ in November 1998, suceeding founding chief executive John Rohan soon after the company bought BellSouth’s NZ operation. He left in September 2001 to become chief executive of Vodafone Australia. During his three years at the helm of Vodafone NZ, the mobile carrier lifted its market share from 16% to 53%.

Time for pondering

After ten years working full-time in agencies (including Mojo, WRC and the most recent role as deputy creative director at Big Communications), senior copywriter Isaac Thackray has gone free-range and joined the Pond.

And he’s got a good pedigree, having picked up a Cannes Gold Lion for the ‘Smirnoff Half Day Off’ campaign in 2002, winning AdMedia’s Ad of the Month with a DM piece for Starship while at Big and picking up BestAdOnTV’s Outdoor Ad of the Month last year for his contribution to Big’s ‘Consequences’ campaign for stuff.co.nz (this was also a finalist at 2010’s Axis Awards).

“Our latest new member is a strong all-rounder across brand, direct and below-the line campaigns specialising in TV, radio, print and DM. So if you have a brief for a sports, finance, alcohol, FMCG, radio station, internet provider or insurance brand he’s definitely one to keep in mind,” says the Pond’s Leighton Howl.

Check out his portfolio here.

Back then

Steve Back, who has been Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney’s executive creative director since 2007 and has worked at both Colenso BBDO and Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, has been appointed as the chief creative officer of Ogilvy Singapore.

Back is one of the region’s most respected and awarded ECDs and was appointed as executive creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney in November 2007, replacing David Nobay when he departed to start up Droga5.

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