A homecoming
Clemenger Group chair Robert Morgan has announced that after 15 years with the Clemenger Group in New Zealand and Australia, Peter Biggs has decided to retire and return home to New Zealand. (Image credit: Mumbrella)
Biggs has always indicated that his long-term plan was to return to New Zealand to live, and has now decided to make that move, said Morgan.
“Peter was managing director of our Wellington agency for seven years and did an outstanding job, helping to make us number one in the tough Wellington market,” said Morgan in a release. “Then in 2006 he agreed to come to Clemenger BBDO Melbourne as managing director. For the last eight years we have gone from strength to strength in Melbourne. With his creative partner, James McGrath, and an outstanding management team, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has built a global reputation as one of the best agencies in the world. Peter has played a central role in this success and we are extremely grateful for his contribution to the agency.Peter is a big personality and will be greatly missed, but we understand his desire to ‘go home’ to pursue the next stage of his life and his many other interests. He will consult to the agency until the end of the year.”
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne has strong management in place, led by James McGrath, as creative chairman, Paul McMillan, as managing director and the management team. Adding to this team will be the appointment of Jim Moser as chairman of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.
Commenting on his decision Biggs said: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the Clemenger BBDO network for 15 years. I’ve been given the chance to lead remarkable agencies in two of my favourite cities – Wellington and Melbourne – and to work with a group of extraordinarily talented people – and great clients – in both of those places. I’m proud to leave the Melbourne agency in terrific shape and I know that, under Jim’s, James’ and Paul’s leadership, the agency will get even better. I wish them every success.”
Morgan said Moser, who is currently chief executive of Clemenger Group New Zealand, will re-locate to Melbourne. He will continue to head up New Zealand, but will take on the additional responsibility in Melbourne.
“Jim is a top ad guy and has overseen our businesses in New Zealand brilliantly over the last six years. He has also been part of the tremendous success achieved by our agencies in Auckland and Wellington. Prior to moving to New Zealand, Jim ran Clemenger BBDO in Sydney for eight years, having come from BBDO prior to that. Jim will divide his time between New Zealand and Melbourne. We look forward to introducing Jim Moser to you in mid-September, when these changes become effective,” Morgan said.
Consolidating the ranks
Colenso and Proximity have further boosted their planning capabilities with the arrival of David McCallen who started this week as planning director (engagement). Working across a range of clients McCallen’s arrival follows the appointment of ex-Sid Lee planning director Paul O Neill in July.
McCallen is a highly integrated non-traditional planner with over 15 years of international client and agency-side experience. In the UK, he worked on major global brands including Unilever, American Express, Guinness, EA Games and the BBC. Locally, he was part of the leadership team that helped to set up Dynamo Media & Communications for Spark, as well as having a broader DDB group role working on Lotto NZ.
Andy McLeish, Colenso’s head of planning, said: “Our business is evolving with our clients needs, and as a result we need more senior, integrated strategic thinkers, and David is just that. We’re looking forward to his expertise and intelligence benefiting all our clients across Colenso and Proximity.”
Beer for planes
Rachel Broadmore has traded brewing for boarding passes with a move to Air New Zealand as internal communications manager.
She leaves DB Breweries where she has been communications manager for the past two years during the change to Heineken ownership and when long-serving DB managing director Brian Blake moved on after twenty years at the helm. He was replaced by Brit Andy Routley in March 2013.
Rachel’s previous experience includes senior communications management roles at HSBC and The Langham, Auckland after returning from seven years in the UK where she was public diplomacy manager at the New Zealand High Commission.
International talent
Following year-on-year growth, The Marketing Company has added two international talents to its specialist training team.
Russell Atkinson brings Australasian experience to the field with almost 20 years of sales and marketing experience at Dow AgroSciences. Developing marketing plans, product development and mentoring in sales during that time ensures that a wealth of experience is now available to businesses across New Zealand and Australia through his business growth coaching.
More recently Atkinson has been the owner of Eftpos Specialists in Taranaki, providing Eftpos and POS solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Atkinson’s valuable expertise will now be available for tailored solutions developed for businesses across New Zealand and Australia.
From further afield, Tom Emmerson joins the team from Honda’s European head offices, based in England. There he managed through-the-line central marketing activity that saw the launch of over 12 new products to 36 markets annually.
Having worked for Aston Martin and BBH (on the Audi UK account) and alongside some of the UK’s leading agencies Emmerson’s background will add European and worldwide experience to The Marketing Company’s training packages.
As marketing manager, Emmerson will focus on developing new courses for The Marketing Company allowing New Zealand businesses to become even more competitive in the national and international arena.
“It’s with great excitement that we welcome Russell and Tom to the already stellar roster we have here at The Marketing Company,” siad co-founder Ambrose Blowfield. “Bringing international experience from some of the world’s top companies to New Zealand has always been a focus for The Marketing Company so that we can offer even more value to our customers, and grow their businesses even more effectively.”
A chairperson is chosen
Leading corporate affairs practitioner and experienced director Liz Read has been elected independent chair of 3R Group’s board.
3R specialises in product stewardship solutions, developing programmes to recycle or responsibly dispose of used products and packaging.
Read, who joined the 3R board earlier this year, took over from outgoing chair Jim Scotland on Monday 1 September.
“The board is delighted that Liz has accepted the role as independent chair which will deliver additional strength and vitality to the organisation,” Scotland said in a release.
Chief executive Adele Rose says the organisation is extremely grateful to Scotland for his significant input during his term as chair.
“Jim has made an outstanding contribution over four years and we thank him for that,” Rose said. “Liz moving into the role of Independent chair is very positive. She will be able to build on Jim’s legacy as the board matures, and she will deliver on the shareholder’s passion and vision for 3R. We’re very focussed on combining imagination and science to repurpose waste.”
Read has worked in public and private sector communications for two decades and is currently external relations director for trans-Tasman company Lion. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and is on the board of the Sustainable Business Council of New Zealand.
“Liz has a wealth of experience in sustainability, as well as specialist skills in social marketing, public education and strategic communications,” Rose says. “She will be a great asset, enhancing our strategic communications, mentoring our team, and increasing our links to central government.”