SparkPHD NZ is through to the Festival of Media Asia 2013 Awards shortlist with campaigns for Rexona and TRESemmé, the only Kiwi agency to make it to this stage.

Despite social media creating a sticky hive of internet activity, many marketers still discount its effects on B2B buyers. Which is great news – for their competitors. Steve Ballantyne talks about the nitty gritty benefits of using social media in securing B2B relationships.

David Walden stepped down as the CEO of Whybin\TBWA yesterday, after 14 years at the agency’s helm. Although many had predicted his resignation following a massive sell off of shares last year, very few picked former APN chief operating officer Todd McLeay to replace him.

Resigning Whybin’s boss David Walden scotches rumours he’s retiring, predicts tremendous years ahead for agency and self.

How do we instigate change and get others motivated when it comes to sustainability?

Big news in ad land today, with the confirmed resignation of David Walden as head of the agency he helped set up 14 years ago. Toby Talbot steps down as executive creative director.

In the ultimate show of first world problems, one in ten New Zealanders say their offline relationships suffer because of the amount of time they fritter away online, according to a survey by Canstar Blue.

Local company eBUS, which offers a cloud-based TV ad delivery system, is the latest in a string to be bought up by an overseas firm.

Remember the unfortunate guy who unwittingly became a spokesman for a particular brand of lubricant on Facebook last year? Now telly presenter Rachel Smalley is battling Facebook herself in an effort to get a photo of her used in a weight loss advertisement taken off Facebook.

The average game of NFL contains only 11 minutes of action, the rest of the three hours is spent on replays, shots of players, and commercials. It’s no wonder then that there’s so much hooplah around Super Bowl ads, because for some it’s the only entertainment amidst the spectacle that is American football.

M&C Saatchi’s emotionally charged “Installation” campaign for the New Zealand Fire Service launches new ad coinciding with the start of the new school year, grabbing at all new heart strings.

Planking, owling, batting, breading, milking, Tebowing, horsemanning … There’s certainly no shortage of ridiculous participatory memes these days. And, to launch its new Beetle, Volkswagen and DDB have tried to create another one: Beetling.

Just as you’d change the locks when kicking out an ex, HMV has taught brands today it’s a good idea to change their social media passwords before firing staff.