Wellington head
FCB New Zealand has announced the promotion of Sean Keaney to managing director, Wellington. Keaney started at FCB in December 2015 as the Wellington office’s general manager, and during his three years he’s been a fundamental part of securing success for the agency.
He’s helped to drive a number of advertising campaigns for many of the agency’s major accounts including the Health Promotion Agency, Ministry of Education and Water Safety NZ. He has also lead the pitch teams that secured new business wins such as VTNZ, Summerset Retirement Group and WorkSafe NZ.
FCB New Zealand chief executive Paul Shale says Keaney’s leadership track record has proven he’s the right person for the job.
“Since 2015 he has brought on some incredible clients and led Wellington and Auckland teams to win many effectiveness, media and creative awards. He is driven to deliver exceptional results for our Wellington clients, a determination that has resulted in New Zealand’s most effective social change campaigns. This promotion not only recognises what Sean has achieved but also reflects our ambition for FCB Wellington in the coming years.”
Keaney, who’s promotion has immediate effect, says he’s looking forward to the new challenge.
“I’m lucky to work at an agency that celebrates its people as much the work and I’m really looking forward to seeing this next chapter through with FCB.”
New executive team
Karen West
A high-level executive team has been appointed at the New Zealand-owned professional engineering and design consultancy, Harrison Grierson.
Richard McIntosh is chief operations manager; Matthew Fleming is chief financial officer; Karen West is chief people & communications, and David Needham is chief clients & growth.
Richard McIntosh is a highly accomplished chartered engineer and project manager. Before joining Harrison Grierson in 2015 as the general manager of land development, he successfully managed a range of major multidisciplinary projects in the public and private sector. He is chairman of Harrison Grierson’s Health and Safety Committee and is an executive director on the Harrison Grierson Board.
Karen West was previously general manager – people and communications at Harrison Grierson and has been with the company since 2011. Prior to her time at the company she was the New Zealand marketing director for a global law firm. West was appointed to the Harrison Grierson Board in 2017 and to the Infrastructure New Zealand Board in November 2018.
Matthew Fleming is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ senior financial expertise. Before joining Harrison Grierson in 2015 as CFO, Fleming worked in a number of international and dynamic companies.
David Needham has over 20 years’ experience in land development and statutory planning, including managing multi-office, multidiscipline land development projects from start to finish.
Change in leadership
Mark Hurley and Ian Howard
Little Giant, Linked by Isobar has announced founder and chief executive Mark Hurley will be stepping down after eight years with the company. Current managing director Ian Howard has been promoted into the chief executive role, starting 1 April. Howard was previously chief strategy officer for the company. Hurley will remain as a hands-on strategic advisor to the business and a member of the board.
Hurley says building Little Giant has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life.
“We have such an incredible group of people in the team, a terrific roster of clients and a strong business. It’s hard to take a step back, but I know it’s the right time for me personally, as well as the right decision for the company.
“Ian is one of the most talented people I have ever worked with, he has a great leadership team around him and terrific support from right across Dentsu Aegis Network, locally and globally. He is ready to step up and lead the agency and certainly deserves that opportunity.”
Howard says he has admired Hurley’s leadership and knows he has big shoes to fill.
“I’m genuinely humbled by the faith he’s shown in me to continue what he’s started and am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead a business I love. A CEO is only ever as good as the people they’re surrounded by, and I’m lucky enough to have access to some of the leading brains in the industry. I’m thoroughly looking forward to working alongside the whole team to lead Little Giant into the next phase of our journey.”
DANZ NZ chief executive Rob Harvey says Hurley has been instrumental in making Little Giant the leading agency it is today.
“The team are constantly delivering brilliant customer experiences for our clients – and with Ian moving into the CEO role I know there is much more to come. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Mark and have greatly valued his contribution to our group, but I’m confident the team will continue to thrive and grow under Ian’s leadership.”
Alongside the leadership changes, Matt Van Tiel has been hired as the head of delivery, bringing with him over ten years digital agency experience. Most recently, he was operations director at Young & Shand.
