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Movings/Shakings: 8 December

Senior duo
 

Ogilvy & Mather today announced the appointment of Anita Waugh and Paul Pritchard.


 
Backed by 18 years experience leading Brand and Marketing Communications strategy, design, projects and teams, Waugh steps into the brand director of FMCG brand strategy development role. 
 
She joins the agency having worked for a diverse range of local and international businesses in the past, including Vodafone, ANZ, 2degrees, Coca-Cola and Microsoft. 
 
Pritchard takes the reins as chief digital officer following 15 years in the communications industry helping businesses connect with their customers, including recent roles such as chief executive at APD Group and senior roles at RappTribal and DDB New Zealand. 
 
Existing Ogilvy Change team member Renee Jaine is also taking a step up from choice architect to business director as the specialist behavioural change division grows from its Wellington base.
 
Ogilvy & Mather managing director Greg Partington says the addition of the new lineup is “a game changer” for clients seeking competitive advantage in their categories.
 
“We’re continually looking for ways to evolve our business and Anita, Paul and Renee are not only exceptional in their abilities but they have the breadth of experience needed to affect change within our clients’ businesses – this is ultimately our collective goal.”

This announcement follows on from the recent departure of former executive director Paul Manning, who joined .99.  
 

Still behind the wheel

Spark has announced that they have been re-appointed to handle media planning and buying for Mercedes-Benz in New Zealand, effective immediately. The appointment follows a competitive pitch which included agencies from Publicis and WPP. 

“Mercedes Benz continues to set the pace in New Zealand’s automotive scene and we are privileged to have been part of their success,” says Spark PHD chief executive Louise Bond. “To be able to continue our work with the fantastic team at Daimler is tremendously exciting for the agency and reflects our way of working and commitment to delivering an excellent product.” 

These sentiments were also reciprocated by Mercedes-Benz general manager Ben Giffin. 

“We’ve already completed some very interesting and exciting work with the team at Spark PHD,” said Giffin. “The agency has ensured consistent, innovative marketing communications for our business in New Zealand, and we look forward to the continuation of the partnership.”

Leigh Terry, chief executive of OMG Australia / New Zealand, also weighed in on the discussion, saying: “This result is testament to the longstanding relationship and a great partnership across Australia and NZ that has gone from strength to strength now for over a decade, resulting in trust, great work and business results, with Mercedes-Benz having yet another record year of sales.” 

Omnicom Media Group has also been re-appointed to the business in Australia (retained by the incumbent, Foundation), Canada, and is newly appointed in South Africa. 

She’s got Spark

Tessa Tierney has recently joined Spark Digital as manager of market communications. Tierney assumed responsibility of the newly created role from 30 November where she will lead both the communications and live experience teams in delivering outstanding client experiences and marketing content for Spark Digital customers.
 
Tierney joins Spark Digital from Cure Kids where she was most recently development director and formerly general manager of marketing.  Prior to joining Cure Kids, she held several senior roles at Vodafone New Zealand and Vodafone Group, including Global Sponsorship Manager and head of brand engagement. 
 
According to a Spark release, Tierney has already shown herself to be a “talented event wrangler, customer whisperer and marketing guru, who “works at a fast pace”. 

Ending a two-decade relationship

At the Vodafone Music Awards, Dominic and Jay-Jay Harvey took to the stage to present an award without their co-host Mike Puru. And it seems that this was something of a precusor of what was to come, because Puru announced on Monday this week that he would be leaving the Edge after working with the radio station for over 20 years.

In an official statement, Puru said that it wasn’t an easy decision for him to make. 

“It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that I am leaving the Jay-Jay, Mike & Dom show… It’s hard to believe I started at The Edge in 1995, and here we are 20 years later!” he said. 

“I have had an incredible time at The Edge, growing as a broadcaster and growing as a human and it’s been a privilege being part of an outstanding team. The travel, the stars, the laughs and experiences, but more importantly the people…the people like you who listen, the people who take the time who say; ‘thanks for making me laugh each morning’. Radio is incredibly powerful in the way it becomes part of people lives, we all share the ups and downs, the laughter and sadness, and that is quite a privilege when you get to do it for 20 years.”

Puru also thanked his listeners for supporting him when he publicly revealed his sexual orientation in 2010.   

“I will never forget everyone’s support when I came out of the closet. You…the listeners, have helped me through some tough times and celebrated the good times, I feel like you are all part of my family so thanks for everything.”

A Herald report suggested that Puru would likely focus more on his television career. 

A Yellow recruit

Darren Linton has been appointed chief marketing officer of Yellow. He has returned home to New Zealand for the role after 16 years in the United Kingdom where he held senior level marketing positions with some of major brands. 

Yellow chief executive Michael Boersen says: “We are delighted Darren has chosen Yellow to come home to. We’re going through an exciting period of change, and Darren’s extensive executive-level experience in the digital marketing space will be instrumental in successfully executing our strategy.” 

Linton was formerly the managing director of creative agency Zero Degrees West in London. Prior to his tenure there, he held a variety of marketing leadership roles with Universal Pictures and The Walt Disney Company.

Boersen adds: “Acting CMO, John O’Tool, has done an outstanding job delivering critical pricing and marketing automation projects for Yellow and will remain with us in the short term in an advisory capacity.”

Linton’s appointment was effective from Monday, 16 November.

Hitting the soundwaves 

Former Black Caps opener Mark Richardson, the host of The Block NZ and co-host of The Crowd Goes Wild, will become a new member of The Sound Breakfast in 2016, joining current hosts Leah Panapa and Nik Brown.


 
“When The Sound launched back in 2012, I remember walking into work and saying, ‘have you heard that new station called The Sound? It’s awesome!’” says Richardson, “So how stoked do you think I am to now find myself working on it!”
 
His new colleagues are looking forward to having him on board and see it as a great start to the New Year.
 
Brown says: “Mark will bring a fountain of sporting knowledge to the show.”

Panapa, who has known Richardson personally for years, says his dry sense of humour will add a new dynamic to the show.  
 
“I believe Mark will fit The Sound perfectly,” says Panapa. “I hear after a few beers he does a wonderful rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. Seriously, 2016 will kick off a new era for The Sound and I cannot wait.”
 
The show will officially start in early 2016.​

A creative leader

Rebecca Carrasco has been appointed head of Facebook Creative Shop Australia and New Zealand.

She joins the tech company having most recently served as a creative director at Clemenger BBDO in Sydney and previously served as founding partner and executive creative director at Colman Rasic Carrasco between 2007 and 2010.

She has also held creative roles at Lowe Hunt, Saatchi & Saatchi and Colenso BBDO.

Facebook’s head of communications across Australia and New Zealand, Antonia Sanda, welcomed the addition of Carrasco to the team. 

“Our focus is to bring incredible work onto the Facebook platform. We are at a point of maturity with the tools and product set available to marketers, and Rebecca will help us demonstrate the broad creative canvas available to agencies that Facebook and Instagram offer.”

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