Embracing new opportunities
L-R: Kantar NZ’s Ian Wentworth Stu Eagle and Simon Munro
Kantar New Zealand has announced the appointment of Simon Munro as business development director.
Munro brings to the team a thorough understanding of the industry and more than a decade of experience in commercial and business development in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, including London-based Reputation Institute and Chapman Tripp where he was prior to joining the team at Kantar.
In addition to Munro’s appointment two new roles have been established and filled internally.
Ian Wentworth will move from group client director to become the new business delivery director, responsible for leading change management within the internal-facing aspects of the business, especially automation, efficiency and alternative data sources, as well as overseeing a smooth workflow process.
He will work alongside Stu Eagle, who has been promoted into the new role of technical solutions director, which has a focus on developing and continuously improving a centre of excellence within the organisation in terms of research methods, analytics and processes.
All three roles are part of the senior management team and will continue to have client leadership responsibilities alongside their other specific roles.
David Thomas, managing director, insights division, Kantar New Zealand, says he is excited about the future.
“We are passionate about the work we do and recognise that organisations need to have confidence in the decisions they make in a constantly changing world, based on the insights we deliver.
“With this in mind, the new roles that Ian and Stu fulfil are critical to providing the mechanisms for a constructive and astute organisation to deliver this, while Simon will bring a unique breadth of business understanding and is tasked with seeking out and embracing new opportunities to bring our unique mix of skills to bear on business’s marketing issues.”
Wentworth and Eagle’s roles are effective immediately and Munro joined the team this week.
A new face
Imagic Creative have appointed Maria Glass as client director. Known for her extensive work across government, having worked for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and advised Environment Canterbury, Regenerate Christchurch and AgResearch, Glass brings her broad experience across marketing, advertising and media.
Paul Fairbairn, Imagic’s founding director, says Glass has the “right mix of emotional and strategic intelligence with the ability to bring the right people together and motivate them to make great campaigns happen”.
Imagic’s managing director, Dale Fairbairn says it’s exciting having someone of Maria’s calibre join Imagic. In particular, her experience in media planning will be invaluable to us, and to our clients.”
Mother to two teenage girls and a keen tramper, Maria believes in getting alongside clients; gaining their trust and understanding their business.
“I like the idea of ‘making my clients famous’.”
New face at helm
Heather Du Plessis-Allan is joining Newstalk ZB Drive, following Larry Williams departure after 27 years in the role. Du Plessis-Allan will commence her new role on Monday 13 May and will be based in the Auckland newsroom.
She is currently Newstalk ZB’s Wellington Mornings host and a columnist at the Herald on Sunday.
