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Colenso BBDO welcomes new group managing partner for Spark NZ
Colenso BBDO has appointed Jake Stopper as group managing partner, heading up the Spark NZ account.
Stopper joins the agency from +61, the bespoke agency partnership built for Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications brand. As client partner, he played a foundational role and led multiple programmes of work.
His move across the Tasman follows successful run in Sydney and New York, where he developed a reputation for delivering high-impact, culture-defining work. A natural collaborator and sceptic of traditional silos, Stopper is known for his hands-on approach and for nurturing strategic thinking.
Inspire the teams
Stopper says: “Colenso is an agency I’ve had my eye on since I was a junior executive in New York, admiring their work from afar. It never remotely occurred to me that I might end up there one day. So this is all still a little surreal to me. Getting in here, meeting the people, feeling the energy. The decision to make the leap became sort of obvious. It was an operation and a culture I wanted to be a part of.”
Angela Watson, Colenso BBDO CEO, says: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jake to the team. He possesses an exceptional knack for balancing commercial acumen with the relentless pursuit of distinctive ideas. His achievements at +61 and Special Group underscore his ability to scale large brands through cultural relevance and bold creative work. Jake brings a fresh perspective and an energetic focus that will inspire our teams and bring value to our client partners.”
Stopper adds: “I’ve been incredibly lucky over the course of my career to get the opportunities I’ve gotten. Being in the room with some of the most creative people on the planet. Participating in those debates. This felt like the natural next step. I’m just excited to get started.”
