Tag: anz

Australia – State Trustees Australia, the State Government-owned company that provides tailored services to clients and supports Victorians to protect their legacy and financial wellbeing, has appointed global digital and conversational agency Versa in Australia, to be its conversational AI agency partner.

Through the partnership, Versa was tasked to deliver a pilot customer service project, which aims to improve operational efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and employee productivity. 

Following the completion of the project for the State Trustees Personal Finance administration team, the agency will now be embarking on a pilot for Trustee Services customers.

In addition, the agency has also finished an initial automation project for Wilson Parking Australia’s IVR system and is now managing the delivery of subsequent IVR updates.

State Trustees’ Executive General Manager Michael Spiegel shared that one of the reasons they were attracted to Versa was their test and learn approach, which is aligned to everything they do at State Trustees – ensuring they collect the data needed to make informed decisions before moving forward and rolling out a project. 

“The discovery process has given us the ability to analyze detailed customer insights, expose opportunities for optimization, and the best approach for customers and staff. We have already seen some quick wins for our team,” said Spiegel. 

Meanwhile, Dale Smith, the national manager of customer experience at Wilson Parking, said, “We are excited about the improvements conversational AI and augmentation can deliver to our contact center. We look forward to working with Versa further to bring the benefits of a blended approach using both automation and our human resources to our customers and our customer service teams.”

Versa’s CEO Kath Blackham commented that they are thrilled to be working with State Trustees and Wilson Parking on projects that will build and support customer service and customer service teams by using technology to augment and help humans be happier and more productive in the workplace.

“It is a really exciting time for Versa and the wider industry with increased uptake in conversational AI technology in a range of sectors,” said Blackham.

In April this year, Versa launched a navigation-less and bot-activated website – https://versa.agency, which utilizes AI-powered conversational bot technology, allowing visitors to ask for what they want using voice or text, without having to search for it.

Sydney, Australia – Procter & Gamble’s oral hygiene brand Oral-B Kids in Australia has launched a playful creative campaign titled ‘Brushtime Tales’, with the aim to drive education of fun and effective brushing habits in children.

Done in collaboration with creative digital production agency MediaMonks, ‘Brushtime Tales’ is a platform idea that uses the power of storytelling to turn the mundane routine of tooth brushing into tales of wonder and adventure.

The agency produced an animated film for YouTube and animated bumpers to fuel a sequential targeting media strategy on YouTube. Each tale transformed the boring routine of tooth brushing into immersive tales, such as finding the great pie robbery to fighting monsters with a bristle sword. 

In addition, the tales also have a different educational oral care message including the proper brushing technique with an electric ‘power brush’, two minutes of brushing, and using a pea-sized amount of paste. 

MediaMonks’ Creative Director Kim Jerbo said, “Every element of this creative was developed at MediaMonks from concept to character development and film. Results are extremely positive with content performing 7 percentage points above industry benchmarks set.”

Meanwhile, Shea Warnes, the strategy director at MediaMonks ANZ, shared that when kids spot a lecture coming they are quick to mentally retreat, so if they are to educate kids on good brushing habits, they need to be fun and engaging rather than authoritative. 

“Stories have always played a powerful role in helping us share knowledge, emotions, hopes, and beliefs. For kids, tales of wonder supported children learn about and navigate the world. So we wanted to use tales as tools,” said Warnes.

Australia – To celebrate its 10th year anniversary this year, independent creative agency Paper Moose in Australia has launched its first-ever initiative for its clients called ‘Buy One, Give One’, which aims to drive a positive and lasting change in the economy.

Through the ‘Buy One, Give One’ program, the agency will be donating time and creative resources to selected organizations that are on the mission to decarbonize the planet. This will help them tell their story, have a greater impact, and raise public consciousness. 

All beneficiaries are hand-picked by the agency. An example of an organization Paper Moose is hoping to help is deep tech company Vow Food, which is working to create cultured meats that do not harm the environment. 

Paper Moose’s CEO and Co-founder Nick Hunter shared to MARKETECH APAC that the name and idea of the initiative are not new ones but have been repurposed from other categories and sectors and hopes it’s a simple name that explains what it does on the tin.

“The world has changed and consumers in 2021 expect more from brands. Our impact on communities and the planet is being felt everywhere and people are looking to brands to fix the problem. As part of our new direction, we want to also help facilitate and accelerate that change,” said Hunter. 

Meanwhile, James Sykes, the head of strategy at Paper Moose, commented that the creative industry has helped businesses sell stuff for a long time, but today that same creativity needs to help new technologies flourish, and inventive Australian companies showcase what they’re doing. 

“Our client’s success remains our number one job but it’s time for our agency magic to accelerate deployment of the technologies that will save us,” said Sykes.

Earlier this month, Paper Moose announced the appointment of Sykes as its new head of strategy who is tasked to boost the creative agency’s overall strategy.

Australia – Creative communications agency Keep Left has launched an innovative brand project for the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest emissions reduction project ever undertaken by local governments worldwide.

VECO sees 46 local government councils in the state pool their energy contracts into one Power Purchase Agreement via Red Energy, to deliver 100% renewable energy that powers up council-owned infrastructure including public libraries, streetlights, and leisure centers, among others.

As the creative partner on the project, Keep Left was tasked with building the brand from inception, which included concepting the name, brand messaging, and visual identity, as well as launching creatives, such as a brand film, an explainer video, a website, and marketing collateral for all local councils involved. 

In addition, the agency has also provided PR and consultation on the launch communication plan for VECO.

Keep Left’s CEO Caroline Catterall shared that it is always exciting to build a brand from scratch and see it come to life from initial ideas through to the finished work, but even more so when it’s such an important project.

She added, “When it comes to climate change people often wonder what they can do to make a difference. VECO is proof that big changes can happen at a local level through the power of collaboration and cooperation.”

“We are so pleased to have been on this journey with the Darebin City Council as the visionaries behind this initiative and thank them for their partnership in bringing VECO to life,” said Catterall.

Sydney, Australia – Zolo, the profit-for-purpose tech-cycling company in Australia, has appointed measurement-first media agency Agnes Media, to be its media partner.

Zolo is a tech-cycling services provider that supports businesses to properly manage their technology waste. It collects corporate e-waste including laptops, tablets, mobile phones, PCs, cables, and servers. After refurbishment, it donates a portion of the technology to support the education of children around the world.

The partnership will see Agnes Media managing Zolo’s performance media and digital marketing across business-to-business channels, to drive greater brand awareness and engagement with mid to enterprise-level organizations.

Zolo’s Founder Franz Sisat said, “We appointed Agnes Media because of the agency’s experience in working with startups and their ability to scale in order to drive media efficiencies and business growth. We look forward to working closely with Charlotte and the team to tell the Zolo story to new audiences.”  

Meanwhile, Charlotte Ward, the founder and CEO of Agnes Media, shared that Zolo is an innovative startup that addresses the increasing issue of e-waste facing corporate Australia.

“We’re delighted to have been appointed by them to scale their business and drive awareness amongst key decision-makers using performance media channels. I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings for the Zolo brand,” said Ward.

In April this year, Agnes Media made its official launch in Australia, with global payment and shopping service Klarna as a foundation client. The agency specializes in working with clients that have aggressive growth and measurement goals, helping them optimize their digital marketing campaigns and improve return on investment and advertising spend. 

In addition to performance media strategy, planning, and buying, Agnes Media also provides campaign management, analytics, and SEO, as well as creative design services.

Sydney, Australia – Connected marketing agency Digitas in Australia has recently appointed Rebecca Zemunik, former senior director of business development and alliances at digital business transformation firm Publicis Sapient, to be its new managing director.

Digitas is a connected marketing agency by advertising and public relations company Publicis Groupe that offers creative, data, media, and strategy, as well as technology experts. It aims to help brands better connect with people.

Zemunik brings with her more than 20 years of experience, spanning tech, consulting, and telco. Besides her previous role in Publicis Sapient, she has also worked as the lead of the financial services at digital customer experience firm Accenture Interactive, the director of customs solutions at software company Responsys, and the senior account director at creative communications agency Sputnik.

The new role, which will be effective July, will see Zemunik leveraging her expertise in business development, alliance management, and client relationship management, as well as people management, and digital transformation, to continue to drive the growth of the agency.

Commenting on her new role, Zemunik said, “I’m thrilled to be joining a world-class agency with Digitas Australia. I know first-hand the caliber of people and the exceptional work they continually produce. I look forward to working with the team and our clients in the future.”

Meanwhile, Digitas ANZ’s CEO Adrian Farouk shared that Zemunik is an intuitive operator who understands the importance of connecting clients with the right talent and supporting teams to deliver outstanding business results. 

“She joins at a crucial time for our agency. We are humbled to have someone with Bec’s talent come on board to chart the next evolution of our growth,” said Farouk.

Michael Rebelo, the CEO of Publicis Groupe ANZ, also commented, “Bec is a highly-skilled digital business leader with a proven track record in our Groupe. Her move from Publicis Sapient to Digitas is a testament to our ability to provide progressive career pathways for our talent. I have no doubt she will continue to excel in her new role within the Publicis Groupe family.”

Zemunik’s appointment comes after the decision of the existing Digitas Australia Managing Director Ian Gough to move back to the United Kingdom with his family.

Australia – With travel restrictions now slowly being lifted, car rental company Budget in Australia has launched a new campaign titled ‘Get to the Good Stuff’, to encourage vacationers to hire cars for a more enjoyable vacation, done in collaboration with creative agency Host/Havas.

Budget is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, the global mobility solutions provider based in the United States, that offers various car rental deals and services.

The campaign aims to showcase the hassle-free journey of vacationers through renting a car, as Budget provides convenient locations, digital check-in service, and programs like FastBreak.

The story features a couple on vacation, and their make-believe smooth trip, which only lasted for a few seconds. The ad leaves them with the reality of an exhausting travel journey they initially chose.

Avis Budget Group Pacific’s Head of Marketing, Product and PR Vanessa Wolczak said, “Travelers see car hire as a necessary means to an end and want to hit the road and head to their next adventure as soon as they can. This campaign communicates how Budget can help them do that in a clear and clever way.”

Meanwhile, Jon Austin, the executive director at Host/Havas, commented, “This process has been a series of standout moments. It’s been a brilliant, collaborative journey and we can’t wait to get started on the next installment.”

The campaign has been rolled out across digital and OOH advertisements.

Australia – Zespri International, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit based in New Zealand, has recently released a new campaign catered to Australians, to highlight the ‘crazy tasty sweetness’ and health benefits of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit.

Zespri was formed as a co-operative of kiwifruit growers in New Zealand in 1997 and has been the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling in over 50 countries. It offers green and sungold kiwifruits, which deems to be of the highest quality and flavor.

The new campaign aims to attract the attention of Australian audiences by reimagining Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit’s Japanese characters, The Zespri Bros, which was originally created by Dentsu Tokyo. This time, collaborating with BWM dentsu Sydney, the characters are now given Kiwi accents. 

The story features the two quirky characters and their various adventures in the fruit section and beyond, including a trip through the Trans-Tasman Bubble.

Zespri APAC South’s Marketing Manager Janice Byrnes shared that through the new ad, they want to encourage Aussies to add sweet, golden goodies to their fruit bowls.

“This campaign is a fantastic evolution of an award-winning concept that was originally created for Zespri Kiwifruit by Dentsu Tokyo, and we are thrilled to continue the Zespri Bros’ journey together with BWM dentsu here in Australia,” said Byrnes.

Meanwhile, Marcus Tesoriero, the executive creative director at BWM dentsu Sydney, commented, “Aussies and Kiwis share a unique, comedic banter, so going beyond just adapting global assets, we worked in partnership with Zespri to convert these cute Japanese speaking characters into crazy tasty Zespri Bros, totally reimagined with Kiwi accents. This is just the beginning of the Zespri Bros’ crazy tasty adventures and we look forward to showing everyone what they get up to over the coming year.” 

The campaign has been rolled out across TV, digital, social and retail.

Australia – Australia’s peak body for public relations and communications, Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), has recently appointed Louise Harland-Cox, former general manager of member services at trade association Australian Meat Industry Council, to be its new chief executive officer.

The appointment came after an extensive six-month recruitment process with an outstanding pool of candidates across the country.

Harland-Cox brings with her more than 20 years of experience in membership organizations both in Australia and in the United Kingdom, across various industries including financial services, charities, and medical education, as well as agriculture. She has previously worked as the general manager of member services at post-farmgate trade association Australian Meat Industry Council, the head of member engagement and marketing at global body for professional accountants ACCA, and the manager of member services at non-profit organization for training physicians Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

In her new role, Harland-Cox will be leveraging her expertise in organizational strategy, service delivery, and the collaborative instincts required to deliver the best outcomes for PRIA’s members. She will also be responsible for bringing together industry professionals to create value creation strategies, driving growth outcomes for both the industry and the organization members. Harland-Cox will also be looking to implement a data-driven approach to communication and engagement.

Commenting on her new role, Harland-Cox said, “I’m thrilled to be leading the organization at such a pivotal time for the industry, and look forward to building upon such a rich heritage to create outstanding value for our members.”

Meanwhile, PRIA’s national president Leigh McClusky said, “I am confident that Louise’s appointment heralds a new era of member growth and member value for the PRIA.”

Australia – Beer brand Tooheys Extra Dry (TED) in Australia has recently released a new installment of its ongoing campaign platform ‘Proudly Ordinary’, done in collaboration with advertising agency 72andSunny.

TED is a dry style lager brewed by alcoholic beverage company Lion in the Tooheys Brewery in New South Wales, Australia. It is well known for its clean, refreshing taste much loved by Aussies and is also called ‘the country’s ordinary, everyday beer’.

The new five-minute quirky film features Gocsy, an Australian comedian who creates content for television channel Vice and his own broadcast channels, taking a guided tour with brand employee Daniel in TED’s factory. In the film, Gocsy seeks to find the real meaning of the brand’s market reputation as an ordinary, everyday beer. 

The previously released videos under the ‘Proudly Ordinary’ campaign worked with The Inspired Unemployed, Mike Nolan from The Big Lez Show, and The Betoota Advocate.

Through the series of films, TED is taking the initiative to remind Australians of what makes the beer different from the others. The ad with Gocsy, which depicts the claim ‘ordinary is not boring’, adds to the fun spin on the claims of the previous films which say ‘not that bad’, ‘it ya know, does the job’, and ‘at the end of the day, you can’t say no’. 

The newest installment is available on Vice’s Facebook page. The ‘Proudly Ordinary’ campaign also includes digital videos and OOH, taken from real customer reviews of the beer across the Tooheys Extra Dry social channels.