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Movings|Shakings: 24 April

Sparking up

Anna Curzon first joined ASB as a graduate trainee in 1997 and steadily worked her way up the ranks to be appointed general manager of marketing in June 2013. But now, after almost 20 years with the bank, she is moving on to new a role with Spark.

StopPress has asked for clarification on the exact role she will be taking on, and we’ll update the story when we hear back.

In addition to serving as the general manager of marketing over the last year, Curzon has also served as ASB’s manager of brand experience and digital channels as well as general manager of internet banking. 

Media shuffle

ZenithOptimedia has announced the appointment of Stuart Rutherford to the role of New Zealand managing director, effective mid May. Sophia Quilian, the current general manager, will be moving into a role leading some key client relationships at sister agency Starcom.

He joins from PHD Group after a 16-year tenure as managing director at the media company. Rutherford will report to the chief executive of Australia and New Zealand Ian Perrin.

“Sophia has done a great job of leading ZenithOptimedia over the last couple of years but decided it was time for a change in focus, which happily the Starcom/ZenithOptimedia group can accommodate,” says Perrin. “We also have ambitious growth plans for the New Zealand market, and so it was important to find a leader who matched that ambition. Stuart has demonstrated a passion for client business and a relentless focus on the quality of strategic output.” 

Quilian said: “It has been a personal decision to step down as the general manager of ZenithOptimedia (basically running a business and having a family requires lots of energy and at the moment, my family needs a greater share of this energy). I’m going to a senior role at Starcom leading key client relationships…it will be good to get back to being more involved in the day to day running of clients’ business. The ZO business is going well, the team and culture is amazing, we do great work (Gold and Silver last night at the Beacons) but it’s time for someone else (Stuart Rutherford in this case) to take it to the next level. It’s good to be staying in the wider ZO/Starcom crew.  Being the new girl won’t be quite so daunting.”

ZenithOptimedia has had a fairly difficult run since the closure of its sister agency Publicis Mojo, with the biggest loss being Nestle (it has won Palmers, however). And Starcom has also lost a few big accounts, including Spark, Emirates and NZ Post (it did win Genesis). 

ZenithOptimedia moved into the Saatchi & Saatchi building with Starcom in 2013, which was part of a global directive to co-locate the various Publicis Groupe-owned agencies in an effort to reduce costs. 

The move didn’t mean the two media agencies merged, however. In Sydney, for example, Publicis Mojo, ZO and Starcom are in the same building and Saatchi & Saatchi is just down the road. It does, however, share the resources department, which is basically the non-client facing back-end functions like IT. 

Changing channels

An announcement released yesterday by broadcasting minister Amy Adams confirmed the appointment of Sussan Turner as one of the directors on the TVNZ board. This announcement comes eight months after Turner resigned from her position as group chief executive at MediaWorks and sees her crossing the floor to other side of the free-to-air TV divide. 

Turner was with MediaWorks for approximately 30 years and previously worked as chief executive for Radioworks and managing director for Radio Otago. She is also currently a board member of the Well Foundation and she previously served on the boards of Radioworks, MediaWorks, and Tourism Dunedin.

“As a former Group CEO of Mediaworks, Ms Turner has extensive television and media knowledge and experience and will bring real depth and substance to the role,” said Adams in her statement. 

The announcement also included news that Therese Walsh had been promoted to deputy chair on the TVNZ board. 

Walsh is based in Wellington and is head of New Zealand for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. She is chair of the International Development Selection Panel for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, director of NZX Ltd, and Trustee of the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust and is member of the Major Events Investment Panel for MBIE. She also previously served on the boards of New Zealand Cricket and Save the Children New Zealand and until 2012, she held the position of chief operating officer for Rugby New Zealand.

“Together these women bring a breadth of experience and talent to TVNZ and I wish them well as they settle into their new roles,” said Adams.

In addition to these two changes, Adams also announced that Gary Monk has been reappointed to the board of Radio New Zealand for a term of six months. 

“Mr Monk has been a director of Radio New Zealand since 2009 and continues to make a good contribution to the board,” said Adams.

Outdoor moves

Ambient Group has announced the appointment of Cameron Taylor to the newly created role of general manager of outdoor in a move that marks four senior positions filled at the company in less than a month. 

Taylor has over 13 years’ experience in media and out-of-home, and Ambient says his appointment is a pivotal step in the growth of the business as it expands its out-of-home advertising concession foothold in the New Zealand market.

“Cameron brings a wealth of experience, market knowledge and know-how to our business,” says Chris Monaghan, director at Ambient Group. “Securing Cameron was integral to our 2015 business plan. We are on the verge of announcing some significant developments in the out-of-home category and he will be instrumental in driving these advancements.”
 
Taylor spent his previous eight years as general manager of Eyecorp and oOh! Media.

“Cameron has a well-deserved reputation for delivering results, and his strengths are built around successfully managing outdoor advertising concessions across airport, retail and university media,” says Monaghan. “Ambient Group’s position in out-of-home is growing stronger, and I am confident that Cameron will make a positive impact on what we are poised to achieve.  The company is on track for big things this year. Hiring Cameron demonstrates our commitment to provide the absolute best to our already broad client base.”  

Brown gets a taste of reality  

Fresh from Depot winning Metro’s restaurant of the year, MediaWorks has announced that restaurateur and chef Al Brown will join the 2015 series of MasterChef New Zealand.

“I’m excited to be part of a new chapter for MasterChef New Zealand,” says Brown. “This series is going to create a fun, supportive and engaging environment for the contestants, with a real focus on showcasing some of our best and brightest local producers. I hope we can take the MasterChef experience to a whole new level and give it an added edge from the brand new kitchen headquarters.”

Brown’s first job will be to select the top 24 home cooks to join him and two fellow yet-to-be-announced judges in the MasterChef kitchen.

“I think MasterChef New Zealand has always given us a great snapshot of the culinary state of the nation and I’m looking forward to seeing what amateur cooks come out of the woodwork for this series,” he says. “I’ll be working on the the show behind the scenes, as well as being part of the judging panel. I’ve been thinking hard about some unique and informative new challenges for the contestants, and I’m looking forward to rolling them out.”

According to his website, Brown completed his Culinary Arts degree at the New England Culinary Institute in the States, and then went on to cook in restaurants across North America, Europe and New Zealand.

In 1996, Brown and Steve Logan opened the award-winning Logan Brown in Wellington, New Zealand. He stayed there for 12 years before heading north to Auckland to open Depot Eatery & Oyster Bar. Depot has proven a successful addition to Auckland, and Brown has followed this up with Federal Delicatessen, an old-school New York City Jewish-styled deli with a Kiwi twist. And he has also opened Best Ugly Bagels.

Live and direct  

MediaWorks isn’t saying much about what everyone wants to know about, but it is promoting its new business arm, a joint venture with Nine to launch a New Zealand-based events company called MediaWorks Nine Live.

MediaWorks Nine Live will launch in 2015 under the management of entertainment professional Tracy Magan, who spent many years as managing director of Siren Records, and it will produce a range of live events featuring top international and local content. Initially focused on theatre, music and exhibition events, it aims to benefit from the combined capabilities of the two organisations (and ensure its own media channels are promoting its own events).

A release says that Nine Live’s access to global content and expertise in touring will be complemented by MediaWorks’ unique media assets, and in-depth understanding of New Zealand audience preferences. The new company will also extend the current MediaWorks entertainment brands with tours and events, building a deeper connection between brands, advertisers and audiences.

Speed is of the essence

Jacqueline Chow, who is currently managing director of Fonterra’s global brands and nutrition, is stepping into the newly created role of chief operating officer of Velocity, effective 1 June 2015. She will work alongside the management team to accelerate performance across the co-operative.

René Dedoncker, a senior executive in the global brands and nutrition team, will join the Fonterra management team as acting managing director of global brands and nutrition. 

“In her new role, Jacqueline will lead the next stage in Fonterra’s evolution, working across the entire co-operative to push forward the Velocity part of our V3 strategy and deliver the best possible performance,” says chief executive Theo Spierings. 
 

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