Award-winning independent media, data and technology agency Together has welcomed two new senior strategy and planning hires to further enhance its data-led strategic offering.
Bridget Bucknell-Whalley joins in the newly created role of Head of Strategy to lead the continued development of Together’s strategic processes and products. A returning Kiwi, Bucknell-Whalley joins Together from WPP’s Essence in London where as a Senior Strategy Director she oversaw strategy for the agency’s largest clients including Google, Universal Pictures and L’Oreal. During her time at Essence she was the lead strategist for the launch of YouTube Music across Europe and helped drive significant growth in eCommerce channels for L’Oreal.
Prior to Essence she was a Planning Director at OMD UK, where amongst many achievements she won a GOLD WARC award for Best Use of Data for her team’s work with Disney.
In her role she’ll be responsible for further progressing Together’s strategic offering, processes, and bespoke tool suite including proprietary audience platform Fusion.
“Together was an agency I kept my eye on from abroad – I was very interested in the work Rufus, Kris and the team have done over the past 3 years. Together has a clear agency vision; with expertise in data, best-in-class tools, and a desire to keep learning. I look forward to building out the strategic offering of the agency and delivering excellence for our clients in 2022,” says Bucknell-Whalley.
Sam Boniface also joins to lead the agency’s client team in the newly created role of Head of Integrated Planning. He joins from PHD in London where he was most recently Global Digital Director for Audi, overseeing digital strategy across 23 markets worldwide and managing key data and technology projects for the global Audi network.
Also a returning Kiwi, Boniface has held senior planning and client servicing roles in global media agencies including PHD, GroupM, OMG and FCB.
In his role he’ll be leading Together’s growing client planning and servicing team, helping to drive client-focused media solutions that span media, technology and data.
“I’m really excited to be back in New Zealand and working with the amazing team and clients here at Together. There’s an energy and ambition within the agency to produce great work and I’m looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and continuing that momentum,” says Boniface.
Commenting on the appointments, Together Managing Partner Rufus Chuter says: “We’re absolutely delighted to have these two superstars join team Together. They’re two world class strategy and planning leaders so it’s great to have them back in New Zealand and driving the agency’s next chapter.”
