Tag: Appointment

Sydney, Australia – Newly-launched agency It’s Friday has appointed Cate Mathers as its head of strategy. Said appointment follows the agency’s recent unveiling, spearheaded by its founders Pete Bosilkovski, Vince Lagana and Jeremy De Villiers, as well as signing its first client, Domino’s. 

Mathers was previously the head of strategy at The Works, where she spent eight years working with the agency. She brings in to It’s Friday over 20 years of experience gained in creative, digital, CX and media agencies, where she has worked with clients such as McDonald’s, Canadian Club, Jim Beam, Qantas, Subaru, Playstation, Pepsi International, Telstra, Optus, and P&G.

She has also held high profile roles including global planning director of Jim Beam, head of digital at Leo Burnett, communications strategist and national head of social at media agency OMD.

Speaking about her appointment, Mathers said that she liked the agency ethos around brand energy, adding that she thinks sometimes the industry is guilty of overcomplicating things.

“Our job is to move things; be it people into action, products off shelves or services out the door. Energy is the force that causes things to move. And having the power to move things is what excites me as a strategist. The team at It’s Friday is top-shelf, and we have an ambitious founding client to get started on. It feels like the perfect storm. I’m excited by this collective force and looking forward to creating some seriously big energy behind Domino’s and more brands to come,” Mathers said.

Meanwhile, Bosilkovski commented that when they met Mathers, they knew that she was the perfect addition to the team. He added that Mather’s positivity and optimism are infectious, and that she has a great passion for tackling the most complex business problems and beautifully breaking them down.

He further added that it has been quite a journey for the agency in finding the right strategic leader for us. For them, they were on the hunt for a thinker who has strong convictions and an unrelenting energy and drive for taking the least convenient path in solving business problems.

“For us, it was important that we brought in someone who can impact a Brand’s Energy in a connected way. Having worked in some of the leading media, digital, CX and brand agencies, and on some of the biggest brands, Cate will be a force in helping shape our clients’ brand experiences across owned, earned, and paid channels, with equal energy. We’re very excited to have Cate come on the journey with us,” Bosilkovski concluded.

Australia — Essence, a global data and measurement-driven media agency, has announced several key appointments in Australia namely Simon Pugh as managing director for Brisbane, Theo Zisoglou as chief media officer, and Celia Wright who has been appointed to chief growth officer. The agency said the new appointments are in line with its goal to strengthen its leadership team in Australia and to boost its presence in the country.

Pugh holds extensive expertise as a business builder and leader and is a proven industry leader, with 25 years of experience in leadership roles across Publicis Groupe, Omnicom and Dentsu in New York, Sydney and San Francisco. Most recently, he was a global client leader for Publicis Groupe, and prior to that, led West Coast operations for PhD in the United States. For the new role, he is tasked with leading the Brisbane team to innovate and evolve their offering across data, analytics, media strategy, and creativity.

Meanwhile, Zisoglou is an experienced industry man with more than 20 years of involvement in leading media investment. The new role will see Zisoglou returning to his passion to deliver a progressive planning and investment approach that adds value for clients. He will remain based in Brisbane and his newly created role spans planning and investment across Essence in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. 

Wright, meanwhile, has more than 15 years of experience in the media and marketing industry. After a highly successful client-side career at Commonwealth Bank, she also worked at WPP agencies Ikon and MediaCom as a strategic client lead and most recently was general manager for media at Spark Foundry prior to joining Essence. 

For the new role, Wright is tasked with supervising the agency’s national team production and ensuring the delivery of results to clients. She will also lead initiatives that support personal and professional growth for Essence people as well as drive growth for the agency and clients, while also leading cultural change.

Pugh shared his thoughts on his new role, saying, “This is a transformational time for the agency, and the opportunity to partner with Pat and the broader Essence and GroupM teams to develop Australia’s local proposition was too good to pass up. I’m excited to be back in Australia to bring clients our world-class capabilities, rooted in data and technology to drive creativity, innovation and marketing transformation.” 

Zisoglou said of his appointment, “Essence is a truly technology-led, product-driven media agency. This is an important moment in the agency’s evolution, and I’m excited to take on this leadership position and further strengthen our investment capabilities in Australia, delivering gold standards in quality, privacy and brand safety, backed by additional global digital and data expertise.” 

Lastly, Wright shared that she’s delighted to be joining Essence and to be working with Crowley once again, alongside the new leadership team. Wright continued by saying the opportunity to guide the growth of Essence’s people, operations and the product is a thrilling one and she is looking forward to helping the team to not only service their excellent range of keystone clients but also ensure Essence is equipped for continued success and operates in alignment with the agency’s bold vision

Pat Crowley, CEO of Essence Australia, commented, “These three appointments are critical as we shape the new, expanded Essence in Australia, amplify the agency’s pioneering spirit and help clients win in the new economy. We have an absolute focus on digital transformation and the creation of products that enable us to create the next generation of media practice. Simon and Celia bring an injection of exceptional new talent that will complement the skill sets that already sit within the agency. Theo’s passion for the craft of investment makes him perfectly placed to take on this newly created role and play a bigger role in shaping this fundamental discipline in our agency.”

Sydney, Australia – Independent media agency Nunn Media has announced five new hires for its Sydney office, led by Richard McCosker as the new group account director.

McCosker joins from fellow independent media and marketing agency Frontier Australia where he worked as senior account director. Prior to that, he was communications planning director at multinational agency PHD for four years, tasked with leading the planning and strategy across a diverse portfolio including SC Johnson and Ferrero.

In his new role at Nunn Media Sydney, he brings with him over 20 years’ experience which includes time spent on both the client and publisher sides, giving him a unique perspective on both client needs and the customer landscape.

Speaking about his appointment, McCosker said, “The decision to join was a simple one – Nunn Media are extremely well respected by their clients, media partners and among peers. To be part of this next growth phase, helping their clients to succeed, was a brilliant opportunity for me.”

The agency has also appointed Melanie Otuhouma as channel planning director, James Rigby as digital manager, as well as Ashleigh Lord and Lien Tran as account executives.

Chris Walton, managing director at Nunn Media, said, “As our business continues to expand we have made a string of new hires across all levels to ensure we continue delivering for our clients. Rich joining us is a key part of this expansion and means we can bring to bear a fantastic depth and breadth of experience at a senior level to help our clients grow. I welcome him, Melanie, James, Ashleigh and Lien to Nunn Media ahead of what’s going to be a big year for the agency.”

The appointments follow Nunn Media’s win of Silversea Cruises and global children’s entertainment company Spin Master for its portfolio of brands including Bakugan, PAW Patrol, Hatchimals, Kinetic Sand and Air Hogs.

Singapore – The Singaporean arm of automobile manufacturer Audi has announced the appointment of Jasmine Toh as its new public relations manager. Toh, who brings with her close to eight years of experience in the automotive and luxury spaces, will be in charge of managing Audi’s overall public relations and media engagement activities in Singapore. 

Toh holds extensive expertise and experience in the industry as she previously held key roles at Aston Martin Singapore. Her experience spanned almost 6 years in the company and held several positions namely marketing executive, senior marketing executive, assistant marketing manager, and marketing manager. Most recently, she held the position of marketing manager for Aston Martin, where she developed marketing strategies to sustain and expand brand awareness, conceptualised and executed new product launches, and managed press relations prior to joining Audi Singapore. 

Toh also held the position of marketing communications executive in Cortina Watch, a watch distributor and luxury brand based in Singapore, handling multiple key events for the company. She spearheaded events for several high-value clients namely Tudor, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bell and Ross, and Patek Philippe. 

Audi said in a press statement that they believe that with her experience and a strong understanding of local cultural nuances, Toh will be a valuable addition to support the company’s growth in Singapore.

Singapore – Global communications firm Edelman has appointed Jamshed Wadia as its newest vice chair for digital in Asia-Pacific, where he will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s growing digital practice and Edelman Studios’ operations in the region.

For his role, he will be reporting to Tristan Roy, global chair of digital at Edelman; and Stephen Kehoe, APAC president and CEO. He takes the role over from Matt Collette, who returned to Canada in January to take on the role of head of digital for Edelman Canada, as well as global managing director for digital growth at Edelman.

Wadia brings over 20 years of experience to his new role, having led businesses through digital transformation and reinvention, established marketing centres of excellence, acted as an advisor to start-ups and multinational organisations, and served as a guest lecturer on digital transformation and marketing at prestigious universities and management institutes, including INSEAD.

Previously, in his 17-year stint at Intel Corporation, Wadia rose through the ranks of the sales and marketing team to serve as APJ marketing director, as well as serving in digital marketing and media. He was responsible for establishing and leading the company’s strategy in Asia-Pacific across modern marketing, media, content, web, social and performance marketing.

Speaking about his appointment, he said, “Edelman has built up impressive digital capabilities across the Asia Pacific region, encompassing a robust offering that has delivered innovative digital work for its clients. I am excited to be joining such a talented network of practitioners in the region, working with them to further develop and elevate the digital agenda for clients, and deliver truly integrated solutions that take their marketing and communications to the next level.”

Meanwhile, Kehoe, commented, “Over the past two years, our digital practice has undergone significant growth and transformation under Matt Collette’s leadership, allowing our clients to benefit from industry leading offerings. With Jamshed’s impressive track record and leadership skills, we will continue to build on our strength in this domain and provide clients with leading expertise to unlock new growth opportunities with digital.”

Singapore – Richard Reid, formerly the head of consulting, data, and performance at integrated marketing agency Iris, has been appointed as a new regional integrated strategy partner at dentsu for Asia-Pacific. Said role takes effect immediately.

In his new role, Reid will be responsible for driving integrated strategy development for dentsu’s key clients as well as new business opportunities across the region, partnering closely with creative, media and CXM leads across all markets.

He will be reporting directly to Yusuke Kasahara, CEO of dentsu Solutions at Asia-Pacific.

In his previous work experiences, including strategic and client lead for Samsung as regional AOR for digital and brand marketing at Iris, he has worked with and delivered brand and business outcomes for some global brands including Philips, Abbott, Guinness, Shell, Barclays, Intercontinental Hotels, Kellogg’s and Disney. 

Speaking about his appointment, Reid said, “I’m excited to join dentsu as it continues in its mission to be the most integrated agency in the world. Dentsu has the best and broadest capabilities, and I’m looking forward to bringing these capabilities together such that we can have the greatest impact on our clients’ businesses.”

Meanwhile, Kasahara commented, “Richard’s focus to be a consultative strategy partner will help shape the business vision of senior clients, by providing marketing and business consulting that identifies new opportunities to create growth. He has also worked at Aegis Media in [the] UK previously, so we are particularly delighted to have him back at dentsu.”

Manila, Philippines – Integrated communications company Havas Ortega in the Philippines has appointed Jay Lim as its newest chief operating officer for Havas Media Group in the country. Said appointment took effect on 1 February this year.

Through his new role, Lim will be responsible for the continued growth of the Havas Media and Arena Media brands of the Havas Media Group. He will also contribute to the introduction of new products and services in 2022 and beyond.

In addition, he will be reporting directly to Hermie De Leon, currently Havas Media Group’s chief executive officer and Havas Ortega’s managing partner.

He brings into the company two decades of experience in strategy, analytics, and client management, where his most recent previous role was being the general manager and chief media officer at Publicis Media.

During his stint at Publicis Media for the past five years, he has built a track record of leading its agency brands with transformational changes that led to business growth.

De Leon also announced that Lim’s appointment is part of the transition plan the agency has put in place to ensure business continuity as she prepares for her eventual retirement late this year.

“I look forward to working closely with Jay as we collaborate on bringing the Havas Media Group to greater heights. His brand of leadership and experience in strategy and analytics is a huge asset to us as we create meaningful media experiences for our clients and brands,” De Leon said.

Meanwhile, Jos Ortega, CEO at the Havas Ortega Group, commented, “Jay will bring a fresh perspective to the agency as we elevate our position in a rapidly changing media environment. He will definitely play a key role in helping us achieve our mission of creating a meaningful difference to brands, to businesses, and to people.”

Sydney, Australia – Media intelligence platform Telum Media welcomes John Bergin, former professional development lead at The Walkley Foundation for Journalism, onboard as the company’s new region head for ANZ.

He will be joining the company by March this year, where he will work alongside Tim Weller, revenue head for ANZ at Telum Media, and will lead a team including Rhian Deutrom, country team lead for ANZ and Reuben Aitchison, who runs Telum’s PR news teams across ANZ.

During his stint at The Walkley Foundation, Bergin led the Google News Training Initiative. He brings into Telum Media over 15 years of experience in digital news media from the Australian News Channel, News Corp Australia and SBS.

Speaking about his appointment, he said, “Telum has become the go-to reference for journalists and PRs in Australia and New Zealand. I’m thrilled to be joining the fantastic team at Telum to continue to grow the business here.”

Meanwhile, Michael Webster, CEO at Telum, commented, “We are delighted to have found someone in John who shares our passion for journalism and media. John brings the skills and experience to lead our expanding Australia and New Zealand media and PR news and information teams.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Used car e-commerce platform Carsome has appointed Ravi Shankar Mallavarapu, former chief growth officer at AirAsia, as the company’s new chief marketing officer. Through his new role, he will be heading multidisciplinary functions and continue to drive Carsome’s leadership in all marketing-related aspects.

As part of his chief marketing officer role, Mallavarapu will be overseeing Carsome’s brand, marketing, digital, social media, public relations, growth, market research and customer experience. He will also work closely with Derek Tan, chief brand officer at Carsome, on brand, creative, production and sponsorships.

He brings with him close to 15 years of experience in digital, brand and growth marketing. He spent six years across multiple firms in India, before moving to Malaysia. During his latest stint at AirAsia, he has built an in-house digital marketing team and transformed it into a growth team, which runs ads to develop marketing products, in line with the company’s business direction of pivoting from an airline to a super-app.

Speaking about his appointment, Mallavarapu said, “I am thrilled to be a part of Carsome’s journey of building a trusted car ownership ecosystem using data and technology. Being the industry leader, Carsome is in a good position to bring change to user behaviour in the Southeast Asian region, where most car transactions are done offline.”

He added, “We can move this online by establishing trust and the best customer experience at every touchpoint. I look forward to making Carsome the top-of-mind brand in this region and connecting the dots between brand, marketing, technology and data.”

Meanwhile, Eric Cheng, group CEO and co-founder at Carsome, commented that said appointment is an important move to continue strengthening Carsome’s leadership team to achieve greater heights.

“Ravi is a data-driven marketer who balances creativity with excellent execution. We are very excited to have him onboard to accelerate our business growth and help establish Carsome’s mission in the market, which is to create a new standard of buying and selling cars,” Cheng added.