Adam Good returns to the region, Y&R bolsters its Welly offering, prodigal Prodigy returns, Unlimited chooses its new editor, AWARD school opens for its second year of business in New Zealand, Eleven PR loses one of its flock to Mt Maunganui, and TVNZ names its Olympic team.
A Good return
Adam Good, ex-executive vice president of Proximity Worldwide in San Francisco, ex-AIM Proximity chief executive and founder member of DDB’s digital agency Tribal, has been hired to take on the role of director of digital media and content with Telstra in Australia.
Rick Ellis, group managing director for Telstra media and ex TVNZ head, says his appointment is an important step in the development of Telstra’s role as a content provider.
“Adam Good is a highly regarded international digital media executive who will lead an acceleration of our growth in online and mobile content and services, including e-commerce initiatives,” he says. “In addition he will support the Sensis growth strategy in new digital product and services for Australian small and medium businesses.”
Good, who was made a director of digital innovation at Clemenger Group Australasia in 2009, says the decision to return to Australia was a difficult one, but he could see the growing role digital media was playing in the marketplace.
“Consumer behaviour for digital media is exploding in terms of time spent across multiple devices, screens and connections,” he says. “I have always been passionate on how brands and businesses can create participation with consumers in both real and digital channels to enhance the customer experience and advance the users purpose.”
Under his reign, Colenso BBDO was twice recognised as the Interactive Agency of the Year by B&T Magazine in 2008 and 2010 and it was also named the second best direct agency in the world according to the Won Report in 2009. And don’t forget the Webbys, Caples, Cannes and many more awards, largely for the work on Yellow, but also for things like the Love Conspiracy for the Warehouse, the Go Girls Virginity Map and TVNZ’s The Pacific campaign.
On the double
Y&R NZ has given it’s Wellington offering yet another boost, with the announcement of key additions to both its creative and account leadership teams.
Elaine Bickell joins the agency as business director, following many years at Saatchi & Saatchi, where she led several of the agency’s most significant accounts including the New Zealand Defence Force, New World, Farmer’s Mutual Group, Interislander and New Zealand Post. She brings a wealth of experience in brand, recruitment and specialist retail communication, and has worked with a long list of leading commercial and government organisations both here and in the UK.
And on the creative couches, much-awarded duo Jay Tamati and Susie Sun are on their way to Wellington after several years at leading Singapore agencies Bates 141 and Saatchi & Saatchi. Their previous experience covers agencies such as DDB and Mojo in New Zealand and TBWA in Shanghai and their work has been recognised at One Show, Adfest, Clio, AWARD and Axis, not to mention a little gold at Cannes.
Their appointment continues the momentum of creative hires in the Wellington agency, beginning with creative director Scott Henderson in February and soon followed by ex-Clemenger art director Lisa Dupre and designer Tim O’Neill.
“Both of these hires represent huge wins for the Wellington agency,” says Y&R executive creative director Josh Moore. “Elaine’s strategic understanding, depth of experience, and commitment to her client’s businesses is second to none and it shows in the trust she inspires in both her clients, and the creatives who work with her. And with Jay and Susie bringing even greater depth to our creative offering, we’re an agency with a truly powerful resource on the ground. We know Wellington’s not Auckland and we’re offering this market the strategic insight, creative firepower and level of service that it deserves.”
“With media, creative and innovative business thinking under one roof, we’ve always had a strong integrated offer,” adds Maxwell. “But now we’re taking the team to a new level – already seeing the results – and we’re expecting great things in the months and years ahead.”
Prodigal Prodigy returns
Jonathan Samway, Nerissa Kavanagh, Stephen DouglasJonathan Samway, Prodigy’s managing director, says—paraphrasing Mark Twain: “Rumours of our demise in New Zealand have been greatly exaggerated.” And it has hired experienced campaigner Stephen Douglas as executive producer for New Zealand and Asia and is set to re-open with new premises in Auckland
“We are refocusing the business and propelling it forward considerably, with his entrepreneurial drive and extensive experience in Asia and New Zealand, will spearhead our next phase of development in these key markets”.
Douglas has most recently been executive producer at leading Australasian post-production house, Method, over-seeing strong growth in their Asia-Pacific business. Previously he was general manager at Digipost in Auckland, developing their international TVC work. And prior to this, he was general manager at Film Construction, where he achieved production company of the Year’ status at Axis 2007 and won Silver and Bronze Lions at Cannes the same year.
“I’ve known Jonathan for over 20 years and I’ve watched him craft Prodigy into the smart, creative, company that it is today,” Douglas says. “I’m looking forward to building on this great work, and to really growing Prodigy’s presence from Singapore up to Shanghai.”
Further appointments and signings will be announced in the next few days.
“The repositioning of the company locally is all about adding to this success and actively seeking new opportunities in the wider Asian region,” says Samway.
Sykes the limit
Caitlin Sykes has been named as the new editor of Unlimited, moving up the chain of command after around five years as deputy and two years as a writer and sub-editor before that.
“We have seen some fabulous people during the interview process but are delighted Caitlin has accepted the editor’s position,” says Fairfax Magazines general manager Lynley Belton. “Her established relationship with the publication, creativity, outstanding communication, organisation and intelligent writing skills made her a hard contender to beat … We are excited to see Caitlin inject her personality into the content and style of Unlimited. It’s a great product already but we are always encouraging our people to think forward and evolve our titles.”
“I am a business feature writer who can spin a cracking yarn. I love to seek out and generate new ideas along with the creative process of putting a magazine together,” says Sykes.
Back for seconds
The AWARD School training program for aspiring creatives, copywriters and art directors returns to Auckland for its second year and is now open to prospective students.
AWARD School follows a strict selection process to pick prospective students, based on demonstrated creative potential and it is ranked 6th in the top advertising schools worldwide, as recognised by the International YoungGuns Top 10 of Schools producing the most awarded creative students in the past ten years.
For the second year, the programme will be headed by Melbourne AWARD School graduates Lisa Fedyszyn and Jonathan McMahon from DDB. With over ten years of industry experience under their belt, the duo have worked on clients such as McDonald’s, Cadbury, Sky TV, Mars and Virgin Blue, with creative accolades including awards at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Clio, Young Guns, Spikes, New York Festivals, London Internationals, AWARD and Axis. Last year they were named in Young Guns Top 10 Creatives of the Decade.
AWARD School students will also be guided by local experts, who will share their learnings and insights in weekly talks and tutorials. Jamie Hitchcock, Creative Director (Assignment), Paul Catmur, Managing Partner (Barnes, Catmur & Friends), Dave King, Executive Creative Director (M&C Saatchi), Aaron Turk, Digital Creative Director (Colenso BBDO) and Corey Chalmers, Creative Director (Saatchi & Saatchi) are among those engaging with prospective students.
“We’re pleased we’re able to offer this prestigious program in Auckland for the second year,” says Margaret Zabel, chief executive, The Communications Council. “AWARD alumni hold some of the most senior creative postings in marketing communications in the region and are shaping the broader creative industries right around the world. We encourage anyone who wants to develop their creative credentials to apply.”
The application brief and entry criteria are available to download from http://www.awardschool.co.nz/ with applications received electronically. The 16 week course will receive applications until 15 June.
Gannaway away
Mt Maunganui-based PR agency Village has recruited Rebecca Gannaway to the position of account director.
Gannaway has a background in both brand management and public relations specialising in corporate communications, which will add further depth to the Village offering at a key stage in the company’s growth cycle.
Village principal Tim Paton-Tapsell says that the appointment has come just at the right time, with an increasing demand for this marketing-specific skill set.
“2011 was a big year for us and 2012 is looking to be even bigger with a number of new business wins across both departments already secured,” says Paton-Tapsell. “We’ve had an increase in demand for our strong full-service offering from both existing and new clients and we’re thrilled to have Rebecca join our team.”
Prior to joining Village, she was an account director at Eleven PR, where she led a number of high profile national and international accounts. Her clients have included blue-chip corporates, financial service providers, global sports giants, local and global utility providers and an array of FMCG clients. She has also been heavily involved in developing a set of bespoke analytic tools for use across both marketing and public relations.
She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (BcS) from the Auckland University of Technology (where she received a full academic scholarship), majoring in public Relations.
TVNZ’s gamesmanship
TVNZ has announced the news team it will send to London for the 2012 games. Coming live from the studio location overlooking Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, ONE News anchor Simon Dallow will be involved in news programmes at both ends of the day, starting with Breakfast. He will feature hourly throughout the broadcast, which will coincide with the end of the competing day in London.
Then, as the day starts in London, Dallow will be live across the evening shows here in New Zealand, on ONE News at 6, Close Up, and Tonight. He will present stories from the athletes, as well as their families, both in the lead up to their events, and following the events themselves.
“It will be great to be in the thick of it in London for the 2012 games”, says Dallow. “The games are a time when Kiwis can get together and rally behind our team as a nation, and I’m really excited to bring New Zealand news of our athletes’ triumphs.”
Dallow will be joined in London by Heather du Plessis-Allan, Garth Bray, Paul Hobbs, Craig Stanaway, and Irena Smith. While news of all the major events will be covered on ONE, special attention will be placed on events in which New Zealand has strong medal hopes, such as BMX, swimming, hockey, shot put, discus, equestrian, track cycling, rowing, flat water kayaking, triathlon, and 1500m. Smith will also be focusing on Maori and Pacific Island athletes for Marae Investigates and Tagata Pasifika.
“New Zealand has a number of medal hopefuls in these games, and we’ll be working around the clock to give Kiwis news of how they’re going,” says games bureau manager Claire Watson. “We’re sending over a great team of experienced and talented journalists, headed by Simon who has lived in the UK and Garth who is currently based there. We’ll also be covering news of London’s reaction to the event, such as how the public transport is holding up, additional anti-terrorism security measures and any other relevant news stories as they arise.”
The games run from 27 July to 12 August. All news coverage, including extended coverage and interviews, will also feature on www.onenews.co.nz
