The lazy susan spins, bringing with it a couple of big creative departures at Rapp/Tribal, a few new arrivals at OMD, a promotion at nzherald.co.nz and a timely lesson in goat farming.
Picks off
Rapp Tribal’s Wayne and Kim Pick, widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s best direct creative teams, are off to New York after Wayne, the executive creative director at Rapp (and, more recently, Rapp Tribal) took the role of senior vice president/global creative director at Omnicom headquarters.
Pick originally said no to the offer when he was told about a possible gig a few months back, but soon realised it was of the ‘too good to refuse’ variety, so the Picks are departing in a few weeks.
A formal announcement on the new management structure of the combined Rapp/Tribal entity (and some additional hires) is expected soon. But it appears as though Aaron Goldring is set to take over as Rapp/Tribal’s creative director (notice the missing ‘executive’).
As is often the case with mergers, some have taken the opportunity to move on, with one dastardly mole counting five departures, including Greg Forsythe (who previously ran Rapp) and Megan Sanders (the ex general manager).
Beefing up
It was revealed last week that OMD’s managing partner Rosanne Robinson had cashed in her chips for a stint in the country, and OMD has hired a few big guns to fill the gap.
With the addition of Steve Tindall earlier this year, OMD’s chief executive Kath Watson says OMD has already beefed up the trade department, which has worked very well for its clients. And now it’s beefing up the research and insights department, with the addition of new strategy director Kate Thomas, who will be working for the other managing partner Andrew Reinhart, and Rosheena de Leon, previously associate director at Research International, who has joined as research insights manager.
Watson says there’s also one more search person that has been added to the OMD stable.
Mudie blues
After a stellar year at nzherald.co.nz, Ryan Mudie has been promoted from advertising sales manager at nzherald.co.nz, to commercial director at APN Online Australia. The only problem is that he has to go to Brisbane to take up the role and “use his extensive media experience to undertake a number of exciting new ventures for APN”.
Donna O’Keeffe, advertising director, says Mudie has made a huge contribution while at nzherald.co.nz..
“It’s a great opportunity to move within the APN business, and I know Ryan will be fantastic. We’re going to miss him when he departs these shores though, as will his many colleagues and friends in the industry, I’m sure,” she says.
Mudie’s last day at nzherald.co.nz is 22 October. From early November, he can be contacted on [email protected].
Playing the goat
Vaughn Davis recently left his role as creative director at Y&R after ten years with the agency. And he’s still playing secret squirrel/goat about his new venture, The Goat Farm, which could just as easily be a trendy name for an agency or an actual goat farm.
“Spring is a busy time on the goat farm. Hooves need trimming, the goats need drenching for parasite control and they may need a quick spray for lice. Pasture management is critical too, and the wise goat farmer will make sure heavily trafficked areas don’t become muddy, as this can lead to foot problems in goats,” says Davis, the head goat farmer.
Speaking of goats, try not to laugh at the goat that yells like a human. Youtube Video
