Tag: Australia

Australia – Ogilvy Health Australia has unveiled an expanded and diversified consumer health offering, spearheaded by a newly created senior role, and local arm of a specialist global influencing product.

Designed to apply a culture-led lens to Ogilvy Health’s scientific patient-led work, the expanded consumer health capabilities will ensure health campaigning continues to balance behavioural science, creativity and health experience to drive real impact on business results and Australian lives.  It aims to ensure health conversations occur in culture where they have the greatest potential to cut through.

Leading the consumer health offer is Ben Hickey, who joined Ogilvy Health in late 2024 in the newly-created role of head of consumer health.  Since starting, Hickey has been working on refining the agency’s diversified offering to now officially launch its expansion this month.  This includes the Australian rollout of Health Influence; a global capability, tailored locally, that provides pharmaceutical, healthcare and wellness brands access to the burgeoning influence economy.

Rachel Stanton, managing director at Ogilvy Health Group, said, “Ogilvy Health has long been known for its ability to deliver effective patient advocacy through integrated earned-first creativity and public affairs, and powerful healthcare communication, where education, PR and advertising combine to inspire new thinking.”

She added, “But we recognise that as consumers increasingly find new sources for health information, we need to embrace showing up in culture, backed by science and behaviour theory, to have greater impact on the lives of Australians.  Our expanded offering – including Health Influence – and Ben’s strong experience in the consumer health sector are all key conduits to make this happen.”

A highly recognised communications leader with more than twenty years of agency experience in healthcare, consumer and corporate PR, Hickey joined Ogilvy from Weber Shandwick Singapore where he was Senior Vice President of its Healthcare Division for five years. He has also worked at a range of renowned global agencies leading healthcare teams and clients, including Burson and Edelman in London, among others. 

Hickey said the agency’s strong expertise across disease states, scientific health communication, health policy, health advocacy and behavior change, combined with Ogilvy PR’s numerous consumer and influence experts, “presents a real opportunity to ensure we are engaging and communicating with Australian consumers in a variety of different ways about a multitude of health and wellbeing considerations”.

“It is crucially important that healthcare companies, brands, organisations and campaigns connect with consumers in an accurate, open and authentic manner, and that their communications are solidly grounded in science and authorised claims. In addition, communications must be developed through a distinct culture lens in order to be noticed and truly change behaviour. Ogilvy’s Health Influence offering ensures consumer health work is properly aligned with their target audience, their interests and the cultural zeitgeist in order to generate cut-through and drive change,” he explained.

Moreover, Hickey said that health influence would be a particularly powerful tool in communicating with Australian audiences that are becoming increasingly aware of, and interested in health and wellbeing, and looking to new media sources for information.

“It’s no surprise that consumers are looking for advice from a variety of sources and we know that social media is playing a more important role in that information dissemination than ever before.  Our Health Influence experts understand this unique landscape, and the power of delivering creative effectiveness and powerful narratives told through credible influencers, while navigating regulatory compliance within the sector.”

With strong experience across national, regional and global healthcare clients, Hickey’s approach is “already having traction”, continued Stanton.

“Ben has hit the ground with a bang. He’s already partnering with some big brands, backed by the power the Ogilvy Network offers by way of strategic thinking and creativity, demonstrating the need for a combined culture led, creativity first, approach backed by decades of health experience our Ogilvy team has up its sleeve,” she concluded.

Australia – The Australian Olive Oil Association (AOOA) is back with its bold, ambitious marketing campaign inspiring Aussies to transform everyday dishes with a drizzle of olive oil.

The ‘Get Drizzling’ campaign builds on the success of the 2023 launch and doubles down on the transformative power of olive oil when drizzled generously to finish a dish.

Moreover, the multi-year campaign is based on driving real action in kitchens across Australia and showing how olive oil can transform a dish – taking it from ‘Blah’ to ‘Ahhh!’

For this year, the campaign features a diverse lineup of influential tastemakers, led by Khanh Ong, alongside Stephanie Feher, Sophie Rindfleish, Mel Melbourne, Kayla La Manna, Malissa Fedele, Daniel Lamble and Lucy Rosenberg. The foodies demonstrate how finishing a dish with olive oil can turn the everyday into something extraordinary.

Ultimately the objective is to increase the consumption of olive oil in Australia. The Association has estimated that if 50% of Australians drizzle just 10ml of olive oil a day to finish to finish a dish, this would represent over 47 million litres of increased consumption a year, practically doubling the Australian market. Importantly, this also means more Australians making a healthier and tastier choice when it comes to cooking.

David Valmorbida, president at AOOA, said, “Olive oil is one of the world’s best flavour enhancers, yet many Australians use it only for dressing salads or dipping bread. ‘Get Drizzling’ encourages people to embrace olive oil as the ultimate finishing touch. It shows how a drizzle of olive oil, just before serving, delivers flavour, texture, and aroma and can completely transform a dish. The campaign celebrates olive oil in a focused way that’s inspirational, joyful and easy to understand. It’s a direct invitation to pick up the olive oil bottle and get drizzling.”

He also added, “Last year olive oil prices hit a record high and we saw consumers leave the category because of cost of living pressures. This year, we’re seeing the price come down so it’s the perfect time to promote olive oil and remind consumers about the flavour olive oil delivers, with just a drizzle. The AOOA is proud to provide leadership and drive a fresh approach to marketing olive oil. The timing is crucial to support the rebound of the olive oil category and further growth beyond that.”

Australia – Independent media agency Nunn Media is strengthening its strategic and planning capabilities in Sydney by appointing Michelle Miroforidis as head of strategy and Elise Dearden as planning director. 

The new hires come at a time of significant momentum for the agency, following a series of new business wins, including SunRice and Neilson Financial Services, with more soon to be announced.

Miroforidis and Dearden bring deep expertise in this space, further strengthening the agency’s ability to drive meaningful brand connections and business growth for clients.

With integrated experience across communications strategy, media and connections planning, Miroforidis is a seasoned strategist who understands the power of blending paid, owned, earned, and shared channels. Her career includes stints at Australia’s leading strategic agencies, including Naked, UM, Diageo Connect by Publicis, as well as in-house brand and creative agency roles.

Joining in the newly created role of planning director, Dearden brings years of experience across both London and Sydney at OMD, Spark Foundry, and Initiative, leading planning efforts for some of the country’s most recognisable brands, including McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and HCF. Her expertise in designing insight-driven and integrated communication strategies will be instrumental in delivering impactful outcomes for clients.

Chris Walton, managing director of Nunn Media Sydney, said, “Since joining us, Michelle and Elise have already begun to make a huge impact with our clients. Their strategic acumen and deep understanding of media dynamics have helped elevate our approach, delivering sharper insights and more effective planning. Beyond that, their energy and leadership have enriched our agency culture. We’re thrilled to have them as part of the team.”

Meanwhile, Miroforidis said, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Chris, Elise and the team as we usher in a new and exciting era for Nunn.”

Dearden commented, “There’s a lot of momentum at Nunn Media right now, and I’m excited to be joining at such a pivotal time and I’m looking forward to working with a talented team to deliver great results.”

Australia – As Aussies get back to the grind, Macca’s is reminding office workers that there’s a simple way to bring a little joy to routine, with eye-catching spreadsheet artworks in an out-of-home campaign.

Part of a wider “Return to routine-ish” campaign from DDB Sydney and OMD Sydney, the out-of-home ads target CBD office workers, showing there are more delicious things to crunch than numbers.

Built by certified ‘freak-in-the-spreadsheets’, Adam Bentley, DDB Sydney’s Creative Technologist, the artworks feature three iconic Macca’s products, prompting a cheeky post-meeting, office break or after-work Macca’s run.

The ads are running in more than 760 sites in and around the Sydney CBD, including digital OOH, office building lobbies, and even small-format elevator screens.

Jack Nunn, creative partner at DDB Sydney, said, “There’s nothing quite like a Macca’s run to break the humdrum of the day. With playful visuals and clever media placements, this campaign will cut through like a Guillotine on 80gsm printer paper.”

Meanwhile, Emily Bosler, managing partner at OMD Sydney, commented, “We are executing a tactical, programmatic digital out-of-home strategy to drive contextual relevance during key moments of back-to-work routine. Strategically selecting outdoor in high foot traffic CBD areas and in-office environments, allows us to effectively reach the ‘back to work’ audience and tempt them with a Macca’s run.”

Australia – Global automotive maker Geely Auto has engaged brand storytelling and experiential innovation agency INVNT to deliver the global launch of its first and highly anticipated all-electric EX5 SUV in Australia at an iconic Sydney venue on 11 March.

INVNT was awarded the account following a competitive pitch and has also been tasked with creating an exciting brand narrative – G’day Australia – that embraced Geely’s commitment to the country. The line-up of activities includes the official brand and car launch event and party and all supporting activations, including media drive and technical training.

Li Lei, CEO of Geely Auto Australia, says, “The launch of the EX5 is a significant milestone for Geely Auto Australia as it marks the start of our relationship with the country and Aussie consumers, and we needed a partner who could bring this to life in an authentic way, and we are excited to partner with INVNT to deliver unique experiences to consumers, media and our network.”

Meanwhile, Laura Roberts, managing director INVNT APAC, commented, “Australia isn’t just the starting line for Geely Auto’s global launch—it’s where the spark of something bigger begins. We believe in the power of innovation-led experiences to shape culture, forge new connections, and set the course for the future. With Geely, we’re not just unveiling a car; we’re opening the door to a new era of human mobility, introducing Australians to a brand that’s set to redefine the road ahead.”

INVNT joins a suite of agencies supporting Geely, including Havas Host (creative and social), Havas Media (media), Dentsu (PR and Influencer management) and Merkle (website and CXM).

The Geely EX5 will be available in dealerships for customer enquiries and test drives from 11 March. Delivery of EX5 orders will be taking place from March onwards.

Australia – VaynerMedia Australia has appointed industry heavyweight Denny Handlin as its new executive creative director, reinforcing the agency’s mission to lead the charge in integrated social-first marketing as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia and the region. 

With a career spanning Clemenger Group, Meta, and TikTok, Denny has led multiple campaigns, built high-performing creative teams, and developed consumer-first strategies that drive real business impact. 

Most recently, as head of global business marketing at TikTok ANZ, he helped shape the platform’s creative direction and spearheaded groundbreaking brand collaborations.

Speaking on his appointment, Denny said, “I couldn’t be more excited for this new chapter at VaynerMedia, partnering with world-class clients to put social at the centre of everything we do. The team here is already known for its innovative, creative thinking, and I can’t wait to get started and push the boundaries of what’s possible in this space.”

He added, “I’ve called TikTok my home for nearly five years, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there. I’ve worked with an immensely talented team and am proud of what we’ve built together. I truly wish them all the best.”

In his new role, Denny will report to Karen Coleman, country manager for Australia, and Woei Hern Chan, VaynerMedia’s head of creative for the Asia Pacific region.

“Denny brings the best of both worlds — a rare blend of big-agency creative expertise and deep platform experience. We’re in our next phase of growth, evolving beyond just great creative and media to a truly integrated, social-first approach that drives business results. Denny is not only an exceptional creative leader but also a builder of high-performance teams and culture — exactly what we need to shape what’s next,” Karen said.

Sydney, Australia – Media agency Initiative has announced its new strategy team lineup, a combination of well-earned promotions and new appointments, built with the sole purpose to elevate Initiative’s strategy and product offering for client growth.  The announcement follows the recent appointment of Tom Dodd to the national chief strategy officer role.

Ali Coysh takes on Dodds’ previous role of national head of strategy, Coysh was previously Sydney, Head of Strategy; newly appointed Clare Graham joins the agency as Sydney strategy director bringing a creative mindset to the team; Tom Davies takes on an expanded role adding product to his remit, becoming the newly appointed Sydney head of strategy & product (the role previously held by Coysh); following stints at Mutinex and Thinkerbell, Tate Nalen joins in the role of Melbourne strategy director, working alongside Graham plus Charles Dangibeaud, Perth’s head of strategy.

With an immediate remit to design and lead the next evolution of Initiative’s strategy offering the new national team will focus on prioritising adaptive strategies for its clients leveraging data-driven insights and emerging technologies, including AI.  

Dodd said the establishment of the national strategy team reflects Initiative’s commitment to driving growth and transformation for both the agency and its clients; and he was immensely proud to be working with some of Australia’s brightest minds, reflecting the deep bench of strategic talent across the agency.

“In an era defined by rapid transformation and heightened client expectations, Initiative’s strategy team will push the boundaries of what media can achieve. Our new team will focus on building adaptive, insight-led strategies that harness the power of AI, data intelligence, and cultural fluency to unlock growth for brands,” he said.

Dodd continued, “Since taking on the CSO role I have been wholly focussed on finding the right people to drive the business forward that embody the strong strategic culture we have built as an agency. I’ve known Ali for many years, he is an exceptionally talented thinker & brilliant human to work alongside, so I’m delighted to have him helm of our national strategy offering.”

With an agency career spanning 15 years, Coysh has held senior agency roles in both London and Sydney and is renowned for his leadership and business skills. “Ali’s ability to take a brief and challenge it in the right ways to deliver the best client outcomes, has always been his sweet spot,” said Dodd.  “It’s rare to find a person who truly understands audiences and business problems and how they merge for growth like Ali does; watching his brain start to tick when he’s given a new brief is a lesson for us all…he’s the perfect person to help me lead Initiative’s strategy offering.

Coysh said, “Initiative has always been a strategic powerhouse, known setting up its clients for success. I’m excited to have our team take Initiative into a new era, we have such a wealth of talent across all markets it’s a formidable position to be in. With a strengthened strategy and product offering, and a proposition underpinned by market leading technology, tools and talent we are in a unique position to cement our proposition as the Cultural Experience agency. 

Coysh added, “We are laser focused to help our clients navigate a challenging market, putting media at the forefront to deliver business growth with our distinct brand of strategic creativity. It’s an exciting time to be part of a team with a shared ethos to do things differently.”

Dodd concluded “With a deep understanding of audience behaviour and business challenges, Initiative’s strategy offering is built to future-proof client growth and success—connecting brands to culture in meaningful ways while ensuring measurable business impact. This evolution reinforces Initiative’s reputation as a leader in strategic media thinking, ensuring its clients stay ahead in an increasingly complex and competitive landscape.”

These appointments follow recent new business wins including Netflix and Volvo plus recent contract extensions including Goodman Fielder and Fantastic Furniture.

Australia – Salesforce has announced a landmark investment of $2.5 billion in Australia over the next five years, reinforcing its commitment to AI innovation, workforce development, and sustainability initiatives. The announcement was made at Agentforce World Tour Sydney, Salesforce’s largest local event to date, which has attracted over 10,000 customers, partners, employees, and stakeholders.

This significant investment aligns with Australia’s vision to harness artificial intelligence for economic growth and technological leadership. By expanding its AI capabilities and supporting local industries, Salesforce aims to contribute to a more prosperous future for all Australians.

Salesforce has been a key player in Australia’s digital economy since establishing its presence in the country in 2004. With over 2,400 employees and a vast ecosystem of partners, the company continues to drive AI advancements that enhance productivity and customer experiences.

The company’s venture capital arm, Salesforce Ventures, has already invested over $6 billion in more than 630 companies worldwide, with Australian investments surpassing $12 billion in market capitalization. Notable AI investments include Airwallex, GO1, Culture Amp, Reejig, and Q-Ctrl.

Frank Fillmann, EVP & general manager at Salesforce Australia and New Zealand, said, “Australian business leaders are challenged by low productivity growth, a tight labour market and higher than ever customer expectations. Empowering their employees with Agentforce and limitless digital labour is the breakthrough they need.”

As part of its mission to prepare Australian businesses for the AI revolution, Salesforce has appointed Anne Templeman-Jones as the first Australian member of its Global Advisory Board. Her expertise will help guide business leaders in adopting AI-driven strategies.

To further support skills development, Salesforce will launch a series of Agentforce Learning Days and Hackathons in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. These events will help employees from over 270 companies build and deploy AI agents, ensuring they stay competitive in the evolving digital economy.

Salesforce is also backing workforce diversity initiatives, such as the Deloitte Digital Career Compass program and the FW Jobs Academy. These programs aim to equip women and diverse communities with in-demand Salesforce AI skills, contributing to the Australian government’s goal of creating 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030.

Beyond AI and workforce training, Salesforce continues to champion sustainability efforts in Australia. By fostering collaboration with government agencies, universities, vocational education providers, and non-profits, the company is playing a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable digital future.

With 21 years of experience in Australia, Salesforce’s continued investment underscores its dedication to helping the nation become a global leader in AI-driven economic growth. Through strategic investments and partnerships, the company is set to empower businesses and individuals to thrive in the era of artificial intelligence.

The new follows the recent partnership between Salesforce and Google where Agentforce will be able to use Google’s Gemini models, allowing agents to work with images, audio, and video, handle more complex tasks using Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities and two-million-token context windows, and act using real-time insights and answers grounded in Google Search with Vertex AI.

Australia – Foxtel Group and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced an evolved partnership for 2025 and beyond, and will see Foxtel Group become a launch partner as Warner Bros. Discovery brings its Max streaming app to Australia on 31 March, 2025.

As launch partner, Max’s expanded content offering will be available to Foxtel’s 1.4m residential subscribers at no additional cost to their Foxtel subscription. In addition, the Max app will be available on Hubbl, offering easy access with seamless integration into the user interface.

The Max app will include HBO Originals, Max Originals, and premium content from Warner Bros., Discovery, Cartoon Network and more. Content will include key WBD franchises such as Harry Potter and the DC Universe, as well as current and returning seasons of hugely popular series including House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and  And Just Like That…

Moreover, the continued partnership between Foxtel Group and Warner Bros. Discovery recognises the strength of Foxtel Group’s reach, brands and commitment to quality by one of the world’s largest entertainment partners and production studios in showcasing premium content and ability to generate growth in market.

Hilary Perchard, chief executive of Foxtel Retail and Hubbl, said, “This renewed collaboration confirms our position as a partner of choice for the world’s largest entertainment studios who seek scale and reach for their premium entertainment content. We have always said optionality is central to our long-standing partnership. The strength of our products and much-loved brands means that we have been able to innovate and evolve our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery in a unique model that enables mutual growth.”

Hilary added. “We have been partners with Warner Bros. Discovery for over 20 years and are delighted that our world-class aggregation products will play key roles in launching Max in this market. As launch partner, our Foxtel and Hubbl customers will be able to seamlessly access the breadth of content across the Warner Bros. Discovery content slate, which has always been popular among audiences, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value for our subscribers.”

Meanwhile, Michael Brooks, general manager of ANZ at Warner Bros. Discovery, commented, “Through our long-standing partnership, Australians have enjoyed WBD’s world-class content through Foxtel Group platforms for many years. As we launch the Max app in Australia – and look to maximise its reach through partnerships – it makes perfect sense for us to create a unique option we know will resonate with Foxtel subscribers and Hubbl users.”

The news follows after Warner Bros. Discovery had tapped Special Group and EssenceMediacom for their creative and media mandate respectively–both related to Max’s launch in Australia.

Max has been previously rolled out in Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan on November 19, 2024. To mark this launch, Max created localised immersive and outdoor activations for all of these markets to showcase their diverse entertainment content offerings.

Australia – ACCIONA, an infrastructure company dedicated to the development and management of infrastructure and renewable energy, has tapped DDB Group Melbourne for the launch of its campaign ‘Turbine Made’, aimed at ransforming retired wind turbine blades into innovative new materials and products for a better Australia.

For the launch of the initiative, ACCIONA has broken down a decommissioned blade from its Waubra Wind Farm in Victoria into a versatile particulate that can serve as a raw material for sustainable product manufacturing. 

Like the turbines themselves, the products will help power a more sustainable Australia and could include applications such as protective gear for firefighters, highway crossings for endangered koalas, concrete for sustainable buildings and equipment for playgrounds.

To bring this initiative to life, ACCIONA engaged DDB Melbourne off the back of a competitive pitch process to conceive and develop the ‘Turbine Made’ idea, brand identity, marketing and PR strategy. Leveraging DDB’s creative expertise, the initiative aims to engage industry, sustainability advocates, and other potential partners to identify new applications for the material.

The ‘Turbine Made’ launch has been supported with an integrated campaign, including an online film, social, PR, press and out-of-home.

Caroline Pinter, general manager brand and marketing at ACCIONA, said, “Turbine Made demonstrates our commitment to sustainable innovation. We are working to transform one of the industry’s most complex environmental challenges into a solution that enables the development of new, forward-thinking products.”

She added, “By collaborating with DDB Melbourne, we have been able to effectively communicate the opportunities of this initiative. We’re excited to see how this material could be used and look forward to working with our partners to bring these ideas to life.”

Meanwhile, Giles Watson, executive creative director at DDB Group Melbourne, commented, “Turbine Made is about reimagining what’s possible. In doing so, we’re not just giving turbine blades a second life–but also inspiring industries to see that waste doesn’t have to be the end of the story, it can be the start of something remarkable.”

The project is already well and truly underway, with the first Turbine Made prototype launching in early March, and ACCIONA is now seeking partnerships with more industries, businesses, researchers and students.