fbpx

Movings/Shakings: 18 June

New faces

L-R: Haley Horton, Tom Sykes and Vanisha Narsey

DDB NZ has announced the addition to its planning team of three new faces.

Vanisha Narsey joins the agency as a planner, having worked most recently at TRA where she spent almost five years as a senior consultant and client service lead, after completing her doctorate in philosophy at the University of Auckland. She brings with her experience providing powerful insights informing the business challenges and opportunities of some of New Zealand’s leading brands.

Narsey says she’s excited to be joining a creative agency for the first time, where the research and insights rubber meets the ideation and production road.

“I’ve long admired DDB’s creative in tapping into human truths and I’m really excited about being able to contribute to an already strong agency.”

Also joining the team is Tom Sykes, a brand, marketing and digital strategist, with more than eight years’ experience working in both specialist and integrated roles. Sykes comes to DDB highly recommended from Saatchi’s NZ, and King James Group in South Africa.

Having helped drive growth across multiple markets to a range of clients, Skyes brings a keen focus on brilliant customer insights to help create work that works.

“There’s a really strong focus on insight-led creative at DDB and it shows,” Skyes says.

“I’ve admired the work coming out of DDB NZ for a long time and I’m keen to play my part in shaping some of that myself.”

Further bolstering the agency’s strategic team is Haley Horton, who takes up the position of cultural strategist.

Having completed her social anthropology degree, Horton worked most recently as product specialist at Tesla. She brings with her experience in management, team building, event management and more.

“It’s an exciting time in our industry with so much changing in the way people connect with each other and ideas, so I am really looking forward to bringing my cultural insight to my new position at DDB,” Horton says.

Rupert Price, DDB NZ chief strategy officer, says the agency has always prided itself on powerful strategy leading to great work that drives business growth, and these appointments will further enhance that capability.

“Insights are at the heart of any great strategy, and with Vanisha, Tom, and Haley joining our team our insights are only going to get stronger.” 

Team expansion 

 

L-R: Ian Benet, Ellie Ashdown and Angelina Farry.  

Eleven PR, a division of TBWA, has recruited two new staff.

Ian Benet has joined as group account director and is tasked with leading a number of key accounts in the travel, entertainment and technology space. Benet has previously spent more than four years with Mango Communications and brings a wealth of experience, both from his time there and in the UK.

Joining Ian is another UK import, Ellie Ashdown. Formerly of Drum, Ellie joins as an account manager with previous experience in beauty, technology and FMCG sectors.

As part of advertising agency TBWANew Zealand, Benet is enthusiastic about the opportunities for growth at Eleven PR.

“The positive trajectory of the agency really caught my attention. There’s a real excitement about the place that I’m eager to be part of and help define,” he says.

“With the merging of disciplines, there are now more opportunities than ever for PR to be at the forefront of great creative. No longer is PR just tacked onto the end of a campaign, instead it’s a must-have that’s the marker of success.”

Ashdown and Benet won’t be the only hires Eleven PR is making this winter. With senior account manager Lauren McCarthy heading to the UK, the agency is on the lookout for a replacement to further strengthen its growing account team.

TBWA managing director Catherine Harris says the team is committed to growing the Eleven PR offering and investing in talent.

Eleven PR managing director Angelina Farry says the new hires were an example of the agency’s ambition and ability.

“Both Ian and Ellie have a drive to succeed and a strong creative streak that supports how we define ourselves as an agency. Whether working indirectly or as part of the wider TBWA
New Zealand group, Eleven PR has the expertise and insight to disrupt the consumer conversation in a meaningful way for brands. With a couple of new wins to soon announce and more staff to recruit, it’s an exciting time to be here.”

About Author

Avatar photo

One of the talented StopPress Team of Content Producers made this post happen.

Comments are closed.