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Movings / Shakings: 24 November

Going solo

2015 marketer of the year at the TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards Aisha Punga has left her role as commercial development director at Frucor to start her own business consultancy firm, called Aisha&Co.

This brings to an end an over-ten-year stint at Frucor, which started in 2006 when she joined as marketing director, after a four-and-half-year stint at Vodafone. 

Over the years, she would take on a range of directorial roles, leaving a trail of successful business results as her career progressed.

In starting her own business, she is looking to lend her business expertise to clients looking to transform the commercial fortunes of their businesses.

“Launching AISHA&CO I offer a range of transformational growth services for business that achieve success through creativity and collaboration,” says a writeup on her LinkedIn page. “The development of this business has been based on my 15+ years of commercial experience, passion for social enterprise, experience with start ups, and expertise across both private industry and with not-for-profits.”

Aisha&Co has been open for business since the beginning of November.  

Taking the reins

Qrious, a data and analytics business owned by Spark, has announced the appointment of David Leach as its new CEO.

Leach joins from Orion Health, where he has held a number of different roles over the past nine years, most recently senior vice president – enterprise HIS.

CEO of Spark Ventures Ed Hyde called Leach an “exceptional leader with a wealth of experience gained in one of New Zealand’s most successful high tech software companies, Orion Health”.

“His skills and experience align perfectly with what we were looking for in a CEO at Qrious; someone who can continue to drive its strong growth trajectory and harness the enormous possibilities of big data and analytics to create significant value for customers.”

Leach said he is delighted to have the opportunity to lead and continue to grow Qrious.

“Big data and analytics is an exciting and growing market with so much potential and Qrious is in a fantastic position,” he said.

“We are only just starting to see the possibilities afforded by big data and data analytics to help business and the world around us”

Leach’s appointment will be effective 16 January next year. He will replace Ed Hyde, who was promoted to CEO of Spark Ventures in October.

Stepping in to the lead

Ogilvy & Mather has a new group delivery director in Angela Bird, who will look to transform how Ogilvy delivers its creative work through a new, multi-faceted production approach.

Bird joins from the UK to lead production teams and improve the operational organisation across the main agency and business units. Her approach focuses on introducing specialised producers, cross-skilled in delivering on a wide range of work, with production integral to the creative process.

She brings with her skills in operations and production, from her previous role at Publicis UK, where she oversaw the total operational and delivery challenges for their five companies, including Publicis London. She also lectures in agencies and at universities on digital production and project management approaches.

Musical chairs

PHD Group has announced two changes to its team this week, with Jo Hartley stepping in as head of trading and investment and Jodie Bennett being promoted to director of investment and accountability.

Jo Hartley, Jodie Bennett

Hartley joins after four and a half years at Dentsu Aegis Network NZ where she was most recently trading director.

OMG NZ chief investment officer Scott Keddie said: “Jo is well respected in the industry by media partners and clients alike. She is clearly driven by the importance of negotiations, trading and investment to the overall delivery of strong business results for her clients, which is evidenced by the work she has done over her career. She will be a strong addition to the industry-leading team at PHD Group.”

About her new role, Hartley said: “I believe strongly in collaborative partnerships and effective strategies to maximise a clients’ return on investment and I am excited to be able to work with the varied and interesting portfolio of clients at PHD Group.”

Bennett’s promotion comes after 10 years at the agency and is effective immediately. Hartley’s role commences next year on 9 January.

Back into the fold

Tenfold has welcomed back Anna Gervai, who is taking on the role of digital director.

As well as working at Tenfold in its early days eight years ago, Gervai has also founded and sold a digital agency focused on SME’s and been digital director at an international advertising agency.

She also founded and manages the LinkedIn group Social Media New Zealand.

Crossing the ditch

Postr is expanding its roster with the hire of Ben Searancke, who steps into the role of director of ad sales and partnerships, ANZ.

​Searancke is an experienced mobile marketing executive and most recently recently launched and implemented Dentsu Aegis Network’s national mobile division ‘Pocketnation’ in Australia.

Postr chief operating officer Roger Shakes said Searancke’s extensive experience in both mobile marketing and business start-up makes him a great fit or it both commercially and culturally.

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