… as Countdown’s marketing doyenne departs for the Aussie mothership, MediaWorks looks inside to fill the sales manager role in its integration department, DNA’s Aaron Carson changes tack, Miranda Gregg says goodbye to AJ Park, bcg2 welcomes a New York import, ecostore’s not-for-profit arm Fairground Foundation appoints its first employee, Tourism Australia finds a New Zealand marketing manager, Lily & Louis joins Kim Kardashian after winning the local Skechers business, and online/social media agency VeNa appoints a New Zealand country manager.
The life of Ryley
Elizabeth Ryley, the general manager of marketing and communications at Progressive, has taken up a role as general manager marketing for Woolworths Australia supermarkets.
Following a successful 20 year career in the United Kingdom, Ryley returned to New Zealand in 2006 where she was appointed strategic business development manager at Progressive before taking on her current role. In 2007, she was awarded the Nestle Scholarship to attend the Food Executive Programme at Cornell University, USA.
Under her leadership, the team at Progressive have been recognised and awarded by their peers both nationally and internationally for their creative use of customer insights to deliver consumer campaigns, most notably in recent times the successful sponsorship of MasterChef.
She has been replaced by senior marketing strategy manager Bridget Lamont.
Very integrated
MediaWorks Radio trade marketing manager Emily Turnbull has shifted buildings and taken up a new position as MediaWorks integrated media sales director.
“Emily has a wealth of experience in New Zealand and overseas in the integrated space, both in terms of sales and marketing,” says Melanie Reece, general manager of MediaWorks integration. “Her additional expertise in the area of project management will be invaluable to the team. Additionally, having someone with a background and passion in radio will assist further in our ability to drive exclusive MediaWorks initiatives that benefit TV, radio and online.”
DIY, it’s in his DNA
After nearly four years DNA’s business development manager Aaron Carson has decided the time is right to move on in order to focus on Salvation Kitchen, the cafe Carson and his wife opened recently in Avondale, and OnePercent Magazine (‘Hot rods, Motorcycles and Real Rock n Roll’)/Proclass Publishing.
“It’s not a decision I’ve made lightly but it’s also an exciting time,” he says. “I’ll still be keeping my hand in with some freelance work in the creative/marketing/production/having fun doing good shit area.”
He can be contacted on [email protected].
Park life
Miranda Gregg has left her role as AJ Park’s marketing communications executive to take up the position of marketing manager at Baldwins.
She leaves AJ Park on August 12 and starts her new role on August 22.
In good health
bcg2 Health has hired specialist healthcare group account director Helen Purcell to take care of the Pfizer New Zealand business and the haemophilia portfolio in Australia.
Purcell is a recent arrival from New York, where she worked in the pharmaceutical communications area for the previous sixteen years at leading agencies like Y&R, Ogilvy and Grey. She has also worked on Pfizer brands in the US.
Prior to working in this specialist area Purcell was at Pepsico so bcg2 Health’s Stuart Ogden says she brings an amazing depth of specialist industry knowledge with a great grounding in FMCG and brand marketing.
Purcell was convinced to consider New Zealand by her Kiwi husband but immediately saw the positives of moving from NY to NZ.
“I love it here, the NZ agency environment is fast paced, more progressive and less bureaucratic compared to the traditional US agency model back home.”
Past BCG2 Health managing director Sarah Norrie left the agency in March and is now working on the Labour party’s campaign.
Nelson’s column
Ecostore’s not-for-profit arm, Fairground Foundation, has appointed its first employee, Brian Nelson, in the role of business manager.
Nelson has been brought on board for his project management skills, which were honed through his time as a special operations captain in the US Army Rangers.
His experience includes significant IT projects for the US defence sector, consultant to the US Department of State working in Darfur, Sudan, and numerous project management roles here in Auckland since 2006.
Advance Australia fair
Tourism Australia has appointed Tony Rogers, who has spent the past decade in senior marketing positions with BMW Group New Zealand and, most recently, Avanti Bicycle Company, as its new marketing manager for New Zealand.
His move into one of the busiest and most challenging roles in the tourism sector comes as 1.16m Kiwis choose to take a holiday in Australia each year, delivering over $2bn to the Australian economy each year with a 2020 vision to grown this to $4bn.
With around one in every four Kiwis taking a trip Trans Tasman, the challenge is to engage Kiwis with more of Australia in an effort to motivate them to venture further and stay longer. Australia presents a strong brand with an incredibly high awareness but Rogers is determined to use the marketing mix, especially across the advocacy and digital platforms, to demonstrate the array of unique and authentic Australian experiences waiting to be discovered.
Rogers commenced his post with Tourism Australia on the July 4 and reports to the general manager New Zealand, Jenny Aitken.
A bit skechy
Skechers, the US$2 billion international footwear behemoth, has appointed PR company Lily & Louis to help promote the brand in the local market.
“Skechers is a global institution… Our fitness range has helped to revolutionise the exercise market, and we have some major launches coming up in the next few months,” says Brian Maginness, general manager. “We appointed Lily & Louis to help us extend our customer base and reach new markets. Their fashion expertise, as well as their imaginative and wide-ranging strategy, made our choice an easy one.”
Amazing Gracie
Video & Entertainment Network Asia (VeNA), which specialises in online video advertising and social media/casual gaming, has appointed Gracie MacKinlay, previous head of TPN NZ, as its New Zealand country manager.
Aggregating thousands of sites’ pre-roll inventory, VeNA offers cost effective solution for premium video advertising with 100% transparency. Social media service ranges from simple display to fully customised applications. Contact Gracie at 021.295.7622 or [email protected].
