With many Aucklanders sticking to the confines of their own bubbles – unless of course you live on the North Shore – agency news has been in short supply. Or perhaps agencies have taken a page out of Government’s communications book and put everyone on a need-to-know basis? You’d think not, given that PR is all the rage with the shiny new media extensions cropping up everywhere you look.
We’ve seen several high-profile moves happen during the very long 10-week and counting lockdown. Kevin Kendrick moving on from TVNZ, new creative appointments for TBWA and (putting the Chris Long debacle behind them) Rainger and Rolfe, as well as a suite of departures from Colenso BBDO. The latter yet to respond to several requests by the StopPress team for details on where to from here for the Cannes Lions Agency of the Decade. But hey, need-to-know right?
Undoubtedly, we are living in strange times. Covid times. Perhaps in New Zealand a bit of a time warp too, as much of the rest of the globe has already dealt with the challenges currently confronting us some 12 months ago. Let’s just hope good vaccination rates will give the country the shot in the arm it needs to get back on track. The same shot in the arm offshore consultancies are giving to our currently comfortable creative sector. Marketers don’t want comfortable, they want disruption, innovation and excitement – especially in these times.
There’s no doubt that the introduction of Deloitte and Accenture into the market has shaken things up – and possibly point to a new direction for agencies in the country. A direction that some have already responded to well, but others are finding it difficult to steer their clunky ships on a new course.
The effects of this change already being felt if we go on the advertising investment being made by a number of agencies (you know who you are).
But enough of that! What you really want to hear is the goss that Special Group General Manager, Storm Day is leaving the agency for a role at The Monkeys.
A spokesperson from Special commented to StopPress: “We have loved having Storm at Special, and we wish her all the best on her next chapter.”
Special with its PR integration would be keenly aware of effective communication.
This will be another big win for The Monkeys who are also rumoured to have enticed Tom Sykes who only recently started at Ogilvy. Ogilvy, however, had no further comment to make on this.
The Monkeys sure does have much potential with an increasingly impactful resource pool, international clout, and big-name clients. What remains is for them to deliver some truly hype-worthy creative.
Speaking of which, WiTH Collective and dentsu have certainly gone out with a bang on the ASB account with their latest (final?) creative offering for the bank. Well, at least I love it!
Interestingly, The Monkeys’ Meridian account win was in fact less of a win and more of a given. The power company commenting that pitches are generally a waste of time and money for all involved when the likely outcome is already known. Clearly not what you know, but who.
In keeping with the need-to-know theme, Z Energy, which recently appointed Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand as its Strategy and Creative partner, apparently failed to communicate its decision with the incumbents until well after the news was made official. While they may not be obliged to do so, it certainly has ruffled a few feathers.
Perhaps our siloed bubbles are causing a bit of a laps in communication judgement, maybe its inherent of what’s happening at a political level or maybe it’s just the CBF attitude this lockdown has caused? Whatever the case, certain sectors need a serious comms introspection.
Anyway, if you’re enjoying a picnic or BBQ this Labour weekend and happen to hear a bit of hot goss, give Shady the lowdown. I’ll help tell the story.
Stay sane,
HotPress is an opinion column exclusive to StopPress and filled with juicy titbits sure to spark hot debate. Read more here.
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