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Movings / Shakings: 20 May—UPDATED

Committing to the committee

Former head of news and current affairs at MediaWorks Mark Jennings is to join the complaints committee of the Online Media Standards Authority (OMSA).

​OMSA’s complaints committee is an independent body chaired by ormer Court of Appeal Judge, Sir Bruce Robertson. The Committee has a majority of public members, along with three members representing the industry. Jennings’ appointment is as an industry member. 

OMSA chair Helen Wild said: ““we are delighted to have someone with Mark’s media pedigree and understanding of industry issues join the complaints committee. With over 30 years of leadership in news and current affairs, Mark is well placed to make a significant contribution to the work of the committee.” 

Jennings will join the committee in June 2016. 

Moving on

Musonda Katongo recently left Y&R where he held a position as head of art and design, which he took up in 2011.

It is thought he’s setting up his own agency.

Katongo was recently contracting for MediaWorks, working on The Block season five campaign, providing art direction and graphic design to cover Juita Tambunan while she was away, MediaWorks confirmed.

A new recruit

Y&R NZ has appointed Craig McLeod to the role of planner.

McLeod joins the team from GPY&R Melbourne and during his five years in the industry has accumulated a number of accolades including Effies from both sides of the Tasman, white pencils at D&AD, Cannes Young Lions in Film, APG ‘best paper’ and back to back agency awards for ‘worst dressed’.

Y&R’s head of planning Jono Key said McLeod is almost purpose built for the agency.

“Craig is a Y&R NZ planner through and through. He’s driven, smart, multi-disciplinary and loves the work. I know he’s going to be a significant contributor to both the agency’s output and culture.”

McLeod said it is an exciting time to be joining Y&R NZ as the agency is getting global recognition for its strong commitment to creativity and effectiveness across every piece of work delivered.

“I was drawn to Y&R NZ’s dynamic and integrated culture, as well as the opportunity to work on exceptional brands and getting to hang with a lovely bunch of people who seem very tolerant of my ‘homeless chic’ dress sense.”

Building the team

Christchurch’s Novo Strategic Advertising & Design has formalised its presence in the Auckland market by appointing senior account director Anna Seccombe as head of Auckland operations.

Seccombe’s experience includes marketing and brand strategy development for Semble, NZSki, Veda and Paymark.

From left to right: Craig Brown (creative director), Anna Seccombe (head of Auckland operations) and Deb Fahey (managing director)

According to managing director Deb Fahey this appointment represents a significant step for the agency. “We’re thrilled to be able to leverage Anna’s expertise to our Auckland clients’ advantage. A permanent presence also allows us to enable a number of exciting new opportunities,” she says.

Novo was recently extended full communications undertakings for one of New Zealand’s largest developers, Todd Property.

Taking the lead

Designworks has two new leadership appointments in his Wellington office with Vic Smith appointed to managing director and Helen Milner taking the role of creative director.

Smith worked with Designworks 10 years ago before heading offshore to take up senior brand roles in Australia, UK and most recently as managing director for Landor’s Singapore office where she also led the key Proctor & Gamble Asia account.

Milner is a long-time Wellingtonian and was owner and creative director at highly regarded brand agency Tardis. She’s spearheaded the development and growth of a number of New Zealand brands, including many in the food and beverage industries.

Designworks group chairman Sven Baker sais the appointments signal a continued focus for Designworks on strategic innovation and customer experiences across the complete physical, behavioural and technology spectrums.

“Vic and Helen bring a bucket load of talent, knowledge and energy into the Wellington office. They’re seriously experienced brand specialists and with Chris they’ll form a potent leadership team in a time of rapidly changing client needs.”

A new beginning

Victoria McPherson has launched Dots and Crosses, a proofreading service for marketers and agencies.

McPherson has 15 years’ experience in marketing departments and best in breed direct marketing and advertising agencies, including 10 years with the Clemenger Group.

She has branched out to fill a gap in the local market for a proofreading service tailored specifically to the needs of the industry.

Digital focus

NZME has recently appointed Charlotte Bell as GM digital business development, to lead its digital revenue growth strategies across the business.

Bell currently runs inMobi (a digital mobile advertising network) for New Zealand and is a digital native, having worked in digital for over 12 years across Seek, XtraMsn and Yahoo.

Laura Maxwell, NZME chief commercial officer says she is thrilled to have Bell on board. “Charlotte is well-known and respected in the industry for her innovative ideas and passion for the digital realm. I’m stoked to get her onto the NZME team and can’t wait for her to start!” 

Bell will commence her role on 7 June.

Partnering up

Mi9, the digital sales house for Microsoft, Daily Mail and Ticketek inventory in New Zealand, and independent advertising technology company AppNexus have announced a partnership, with AppNexus Publisher Suite to power the future of Mi9’s advertising network, a release says.

“This is an important step in the evolution of Nine’s digital portfolio, enabling us to trade with our clients in a more efficient and intelligent way,” Alex Parsons, Nine’s Chief Digital and Marketing Officer, said.

Effective immediately, the agreement will see mobile and desktop digital display inventory from across the Mi9 network forecast, optimised and delivered by the AppNexus Ad Server.  This includes the Microsoft product suite – MSN.com, Skype, Windows 10 and Outlook – as well as Daily Mail and Ticketek. The new platform includes sponsorships, guaranteed delivery, private marketplace and real-time bidding inventory.

“Our partnership with AppNexus provides us with the most sophisticated digital advertising platforms in Australia/New Zealand and lays the foundations for a range of new products and innovations that we will bring to market in the back half of 2016 and beyond,” Parsons added.

Presidential candidate

At the annual general meeting of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ), Wellington public relations practitioner Katie Mathison was voted president for the Institute, a release says.

The PRINZ fellow replaces outgoing president, Bruce Fraser of the Bay of Plenty based at firm Fraser Consultants Ltd, who has held the role for the past two years.

​Mathison becomes president of the institute after a year as president elect and several years as the national coordinator for the institute’s accreditation programme, APR.

Mathison has over 20 years’ experience in non-government and government sector management in New Zealand. She is currently general manager membership at The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Prior to this she worked in consultancy and in various government and associated organisations: New Zealand Customs Service, Food Safety Authority, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, Meat & Wool NZ, Department of Conservation and the Commerce Commission. Mathison also holds a MBA from Massey University.

Signing on

Photography Films is pleased to announce the signing of award-winning New Zealand film and television director Brendan Donovan for commercial representation in Australia and New Zealand.

Donovan is excited about the move into commercial content and is attracted by the industry’s growing demand for high quality content production in the online sphere.

“Advertising is going through a golden age of online content that seeks to reward people with great stories, craft and execution. Consumers now expect a high level of engagement and you can only win their emotional investment by appealing to their appetite for strong, unique storytelling.”

His recent work includes director behind VCCP’s Ancestry ‘Come find me campaign’, which Photoplay Films executive producer Oliver Lawrance said he was immediately drawn to.

“It’s powerful, potent storytelling. I’m extremely impressed with the performance direction but also the simplicity in the execution and art direction. Brendan is seriously talented.”

Coming together

Eat My Lunch, the online buy one give one business, has announced a partnership with New Zealand entrepreneur Derek Handley.

​Handley joins Eat My Lunch as an advisor working with them on scaling the company and maximizing the environment and social benefits of the business model. He is also an investor.

Founder Lisa King said she is delighted to have secured Handley as a partner.

“His proven strengths as a game-changing entrepreneur and his values and vision align perfectly with the goals we’ve set and our mission to create social change through something as routine as eating lunch.”

Handley’s past work includes two years as founding CEO of The B Team, where he and Sir Richard Branson put together a global leadership collective of iconic leaders catalysing better ways of doing business for people and our planet.

He said Eat My Lunch is a new company with the potential to create wide-scale social change for New Zealand.

“For the past few years I’ve been looking into new frameworks for uniting purpose and profit, and I am particularly interested in emerging leaders and businesses developing creative responses to some of our toughest social challenges. Eat My Lunch is just the first example I’ve backed in New Zealand but expect to support many more.”

Kiwi stars

Two of New Zealand’s best young digital experts have been recognised in Yahoo’s 2016 Digital Stars program. After a record number of entries, Yahoo announced that two of New Zealand’s rising media guns made the final cut in the coveted competition. 

Now in its fifth year, the programme recognises the finest emerging talent in the New Zealand and Australian media industry, awarding winners with access to the region’s leading media communications minds. 

The 2016 Digital Stars winners are:

•    Nureete Burnie, Channel Planner/Buyer, Contagion, NZ
•    Rob Kay, Activation Manager, Zenith Optimedia, NZ
•    Genevieve Canh, Digital Executive, MediaCom, NSW
•    James Grayson, Digital Planner/Buyer, Maxus, NSW
•    Ashlee Casalini, Digital Planner/Buyer, Vizeum, NSW
•    Rosy Zhang, Senior Connections Designer, UM, NSW
•    Roisin Rafferty, Digital Manager, Carat, QLD
•    Luke Maher, Client Digital Manager, Initiative, VIC
•    James Diamond, Senior Digital Executive, Carat, VIC
•    Ashleigh Sligo, Digital Executive, Dentsu Mitchell, WA

​As well as the VIP access at Mumbrella360, the winners’ prize includes a trip to Sydney, lunch with Yahoo ANZ chief executive Ed Harrison, a networking dinner with senior Yahoo7 and Yahoo New Zealand Executives and access to some of the keynote speakers at the conference. 

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