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Movings/Shakings: 12 November

Hoath of allegiance

David Hoath, one of Australia’s most experienced media executives, has been appointed as APN New Zealand’s group advertising director. He replaces Andrew McNally, who died suddenly back in June. 

Originally from the United Kingdom, he has led both newspaper and radio sales teams and was most recently chief operating officer of Fairfax Media (AU), responsible for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times. 

Chief executive Martin Simons says he was a standout in a field of high quality applicants from New Zealand, Australia and the UK. 

“David has the right experience to lead our multimedia sales team into 2014 and beyond. He will play a key role in APN’s integrated sales approach, working closely with The Radio Network and our other partners to build strong client relationship and drive revenue.” 

His UK media career has included stints as sales director for GWR Group, Britain’s largest owner/operator of commercial radio licenses, and as group advertising sales director of the Newsquest Media Group, a major newspaper publisher in the UK. 

He will join APN New Zealand Media on 13 November. 

College Hill additions

Colenso BBDO has added to its talent pool with the arrival of leading Australian copywriter Matt Lawson from George Patterson Y&R Melbourne. And, after a two-and-a-bit-year stint at DDB, Angela Watson has also returned. 

At Cannes 2012, Lawson was the most awarded Australian copywriter, placing him ninth in the world in the official Cannes ranking. Recently his Mobile Medic campaign won Idea of the year for the global Y&R network and helped GPYR Melbourne become the most awarded Y&R agency worldwide. His work for Telstra Bigpond has been voted ‘Australia’s favourite ad’ in The Age newspaper, and is ranked No. 2 in Campaign Brief’s ‘Ads of the decade’.

“We’re extremely lucky to have Matt Lawson join us at Colenso. His plan was to move from Melbourne to Paris, happily we managed to persuade him to change his plans and come to Auckland,” says Nick Worthington, creative chairman, Colenso BBDO

For Lawson it was Colenso’s ability to make campaigns that push the boundaries that was the deciding factor. 

“Colenso seem to pull off amazing stuff pretty often. I mean, ideas are pretty worthless until they’re done, and Colenso seem to find a way to do them consistently. It’s a little scary actually. I’m going to have to pull my socks up.” 

Nick Garrett, Colenso’s managing director, says: “We’re really excited about hiring Matt, because he is one of the best in the region and the added bonus is he’s a bloody good bloke. Matt and I worked together many years ago when we were at BMF and his quality even then as a junior shone through.” 

Dual directors

From January 2014, Haystac New Zealand will be co-led by agency directors Brianna Elder and Alice McKay. At the same time New Zealand’s founding general manager Fleur Skinner will be taking maternity leave, and anticipates returning to the group in a different role.

“Brie and Alice are both highly valued, long standing, senior members of staff and have been instrumental to the success of the agency to date,” Skinner says. “This is the ideal time for them to take the reins. This appointment reflects not only their achievements for the agency but also their many successful years in the industry. They have highly complementary skills and they share a remarkable drive for results. Our clients and staff know they are in great hands and they have celebrated this news.”

Together they will lead services for Haystac’s extensive list of clients, including Seek, DB Breweries, Tourism Victoria, Jetstar, Expedia, Universal Pictures and recent competitive win ‘Rentaholic’.

Elder joined Haystac four years ago after working for Ford Motor Co. as the communications and government relations manager, and prior to that she enjoyed a long career agency-side. Her areas of expertise include business, technology and FMCG brands.

McKay joined Haystac two and half years ago after several years heading up a diverse account service team at Mango. Prior to that she worked in-house in senior communications roles within the travel and tourism sector. She specialises in sponsorship and brand PR.

This announcement follows Rob Harvey’s appointment to the position of Aegis Media chief executive New Zealand. And the new Haystac agency directors will join him and other divisional heads as part of the Aegis Media NZ leadership team.

Musical chairs

Jan Hellriegel has left Australasian music publishing company Native Tongue to become managing director of New Zealand-owned Aeroplane Music Services.

Hellriegel, who has run Native Tongue’s New Zealand operations since 2010, is leaving to concentrate full-time on growing Aeroplane, a company she co-founded recently with Native Tongue managing director Chris Gough and Arch Hill’s Ben Howe.

“I’ve had a brilliant time with Native Tongue, really enjoyed growing their New Zealand business and working with all the amazing, talented songwriters they represent. Aeroplane was formed to do things traditional music labels and publishing companies can’t, to provide services to the local music industry that aren’t being provided by other major players. To fill a void we could see in the local market. Results so far show we were right, and it’s onwards and upwards for Aeroplane.”

Aeroplane currently looks after masters for Warner Music, Flying Nun and Arch Hill, as well as providing publicity, song management and distribution for up and coming New Zealand artists. It has also been providing music supervision services to several local film and TV production companies and agencies and Hellriegel believes this is an area with plenty of potential for growth. 

“I’m really excited by the scope for Aeroplane. It has barely got off the ground and I am looking forward to devoting 100 percent of my energy to it”, she says.

As well as steering Aeroplane, Hellriegel sits on the board of IMNZ and Recorded Music NZ, the new body resulting from the recent merger of RIANZ and PPNZ.  She’s also an APRA Ambassador.

Ushered in

Datacom has announced the appointment of Jonathan Usher in the newly created position of managing director, Datacom Solutions.

“Jonathan will lead a new division that is focused on developing and taking to market solutions for key vertical industries and functional areas, built on Datacom’s own IP as well as drawing on capabilities from third party partnerships,” says Datacom Group chief executive Jonathan Ladd. “Jonathan brings to us a wealth of global technology product, domain and marketing knowledge and will add significantly to our overall team bench strength.”

Usher worked for Telecom New Zealand before moving to Microsoft in its global US-based headquarters in 1996 as the company’s first telecom industry marketing manager, focusing on developing the company’s early strategic business and key initiatives in the telecommunications industry worldwide.

In 2000, he moved to Microsoft’s Windows Digital Media Division and headed up the division’s global marketing organisation, leading product and industry marketing and product management of all of Microsoft’s technologies and products for audio and video entertainment, as well as industry initiatives and global partnerships spanning consumer electronics, digital imaging, media/entertainment and enterprise digital media.

He returned to New Zealand in 2005 and continued in global roles for Microsoft’s HQ, most recently focused on TV and video entertainment partnerships worldwide on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Mediaroom.

Getty checks in to Britomart

Getty Images has opened the doors to its new Auckland headquarters in Britomart (Office #1, Level 2 Stanbeth House, 22-28 Customs St East, in case you want to pop in for a visit). The office will be the base for the company’s five local team members, as well as a central point of contact for its network of local stringers and contributors.

In addition, Arran Birchenough, manager of Getty Images New Zealand, has announced the appointment of Karl Cross in the role of account manager. Previously from AVT Systems and Telecom New Zealand, he will manage Getty Images’ roster of advertising and creative agency clients.

Filling the Boyd

Boyd Public Relations has appointed two new consultants.

Scott Kara, who spent nine years as entertainment reporter at The New Zealand Herald, joins as senior account manager, while Hannah Diprose, previously communications advisor at Property Council New Zealand, comes onboard as account manager.

“Both Scott and Hannah bring great skill sets and experience to BPR and will further strengthen the company’s ability to deliver results driven campaigns to our clients,” says managing director John Boyd. 

Kara wrote his last column in September and recapped his favourite memories. And we couldn’t help but notice an entertaining and slightly ironic comment below.  

Shifting units 

Fisher & Paykel has appointed Mark Baillie to the position of general manager distributor New Zealand.

He started his career in the appliance industry in 1989, as a sales cadet at Fisher & Paykel. He held key roles with Panasonic, Monaco Corporation, Noel Leeming Group and Harvey Norman before returning to Fisher & Paykel in December 2010 in the position of national retail sales manager.

“The team at Fisher & Paykel are at the top of their game and I relish the opportunities and challenges this new role will bring. This promises to be an extremely exciting time for the company as we look towards future growth and solidify our position as the premium whiteware brand in New Zealand. It seems very fitting that my career has led me back to Fisher & Paykel, starting here as a sales cadet has been the foundation for a very rewarding career and I look forward to the next chapter.”

His strategic direction has been instrumental in leading the Fisher & Paykel sales team and ultimately strengthening the company’s position as the number one appliance brand within the New Zealand market.

“Mark’s elevation to the general manager role recognises his ability to lead and deliver in the market place,” says Laurence Mawhinney, executive vice president sales and customer excellence said. “I have every confidence that he will continue to make a strong contribution towards solidifying our position as the premium appliance supplier in the New Zealand market.”

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