Client Services Director Archives

Singapore – VICE Media’s creative agency Virtue has appointed Chloe Fair as its client services director ahead of the agency’s next phase of growth in the region.

Fair combines creative ideas with measurable business outcomes. She will drive commercial and operational excellence at Virtue, growing the account management team and its capabilities, in addition to developing client partnerships and new business opportunities.

She was most recently the vice president of regional branding at Lazada. Prior to this, she also spent three years as the head of brand marketing at Income, where she expanded her portfolio into segment marketing, piloting new customer journey design, content strategy and personalisation efforts.

Fair also has prior agency experience with BBH and Wunderman Singapore across a range of global brands including Ikea, Xbox and Microsoft.

She will be reporting to Lesley John, Virtue APAC’s managing director.

Speaking on her appointment, Fair said, “This signals a move back to the agency world for me as I’ve missed the energy and ideas that stem from a creative environment. I’m so honoured to call Virtue my new home, where its culture-led thinking and approach unlock powerful ways we can partner brands to play a visible and valued role inside culture. I am excited to be part of this talented crew to further our growth and prominence in APAC.”

Meanwhile, John commented, “Chloe is a proven leader with hybrid agency and marketing experience that has seen her deliver award-winning, engaging, culturally relevant and effective campaigns across a number of categories. She will ensure our existing and new clients continue to get the best strategic insights and creative thinking and I’m delighted to welcome her to Virtue’s growing regional team at a time when more companies are looking to us to build their brands from the inside of culture.”

New South Wales, Sydney – Apparent, a full-service Sydney-based independent agency, has appointed Matt Olanda as its new client services director. The agency said the appointment comes after significant client growth seen locally and internationally.

Olanda brings with him extensive leadership experience with 17 years under his belt working across London and Sydney agencies as a client service lead across CX and digital. As client service director at 303 MullenLowe and MercerBell, he managed large teams for clients such as Foxtel, Audi, HBF Insurance, Suncorp, American Express, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, BMW, Unilever, and the Department of Health (UK).

“We’re excited to welcome Matt into our team as we continue to deliver strong growth and win new business both in Australia and internationally while expanding our remit with existing clients. Matt brings with him rich experience and a deep specialism in CX, digital, and customer communications. He sees the agency and client relationship as a true partnership and takes a hands-on approach to drive positive results through creativity.” Phil Smith, Apparent’s CEO, commented.

Olanda himself said, “It’s an exciting time to come aboard. Apparent is one of the fastest-growing independents in Sydney with clients across the globe and a full-service offering.

He added, “I’m thrilled to join such a talented team and look forward to building on their great work. It’s an opportunity to further strengthen our partnerships with our incredible clients like Cricket Australia, Tourism Australia, Google, and LinkedIn who have a real appetite for solving business problems and delivering customer-first creative solutions.”

Australia – Red Havas Health, the PR healthcare arm of Red Havas, has appointed Nicole Phillips, former associate partner at communications consultancy SenateSHJ, to be its new client services director.

In her new role, Phillips will be leading client accounts, identifying new business opportunities in the health technology and health services sectors, and acting as a senior contact in the Havas Health & You network. She will be reporting to Sue Cook, practice head at Red Havas Health, reuniting the healthcare peers who previously worked together for a decade. Their already strong working relationship is set to significantly benefit the agency, the team, and its clients.

Phillips brings over 25 years of experience as a communication, reputation, and engagement advisor specialising in healthcare and specialist medical services in consulting and in-house roles. She spent 16 years leading the global public affairs and marketing team for ASX-listed Virtus Health, working across its fertility, diagnostics, and day hospital operations. Moreover, Phillips has worked for patient advocacy organisations and represented healthcare professional organisations, private and public health services, and many pharmaceutical clients.

Commenting on her appointment, Phillips said, “The energy at Red Havas is infectious (pardon the pun) and the ability to deliver integrated communications strategies working with our Village colleagues across social, experiential, corporate and public affairs to communicate the human stories behind the science is an exciting prospect.”

Meanwhile, Cook shared that she is excited to be working with Phillips given their history of working together, both as colleagues and in client/consultancy relationships.

She added, “With Nic’s expertise, we will be looking to expand our remit in health technology and health services, whilst continuing our focus on our core sectors of pharmaceuticals and consumer health which have grown significantly since I joined Red Havas in late 2018. In addition, our patient advocacy work continues with a key ongoing partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, a passion project for our agency as this cause touches so many of us.”

In a further boost to Red Havas Health, the agency also announced the appointments of Alice Cullam, the new senior account manager, and Daisy Bartlett, the new account manager. Cullam is an experienced healthcare communicator having spent 12 years working across COVID-19, diabetes, heart disease, ophthalmology, oncology, and mental health projects locally and overseas. While Bartlett has been working with the team since the start of this year and now joins them from Scotland.

Steve Fontanot, managing director at Red Havas, said, “With Red Havas’ global approach to health communications, the team is playing an important role in communicating the human stories behind the science. We’re grateful to Sue for her stewardship here in Australia over the years, as well as to the wider team for the important role that they play within society. I think we can all agree that these last few years have been a particularly busy and crucial time in health communications. Additionally, we’re so very glad that Nicole, Alice, and Daisy have joined the team – their impacts have been immediate and impressive.”

Brisbane, Australia – Public relations agency Red Havas in Australia has appointed Kyra Shakspeare, former senior account director at full-service PR agency Haystac, to step into its newly created position of client services director for the Brisbane office.

In her new role, Shakspeare will play an important role in helping to re-define the agency’s Brisbane presence, cultivating a new, high performing team in ‘the River City’, whilst also providing senior counsel to Red Havas’ national health division, which is experiencing rapid growth. She will report directly to Haylie Marchant, Red Havas Brisbane’s executive director.

Shakspeare brings 12 years of experience working with consumer and health clients, including Swiss, Chobani, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, and Cotton On Group, as well as eHarmony, and Land Rover. Aside from her previous role at Haystac, she has also held leadership roles at communications firms WE Buchan and FleishmanHillard.

Commenting on her appointment, Shakspeare said, “Working beside Haylie in the past has led to some of my biggest achievements to date. I’m excited to work alongside Haylie again to drive our people and creative led-culture to continually deliver best-in-class consultancy for our clients.”

Meanwhile, Marchant commented that she is thrilled to welcome Shakspeare into this leadership role that will be pivotal in driving the growth and development of their Queensland offering.

“Kyra and I have worked together previously, so I know firsthand the value she brings to an agency and client partnerships. I’m incredibly excited about what the future holds for Red Havas Brisbane and our wider agency,” she said.

Red Havas Brisbane has also announced its recent new business wins, which include Club Active, the Australian health and fitness community for over 50s, and the Australian Counselling Association, the country’s registration body for counsellors and psychotherapists.

Marchant said that the new business wins reflect the depth of health expertise at the agency. She added, “The work we are delivering across the organisations is incredibly important and meaningful. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the health and wellness of Australians, especially during this critical time.”

Sydney, Australia – Creative and technology agency CX Lavender has announced new appointments; firstly, Kirsty Angus as client services director to elevate the agency’s strategic services across the disciplines of technology, creative, data, and brand, while Jamie Parfitt has been elevated to the role of head of strategy, coming from his previous position as senior strategy director.

Angus’ responsibilities at CX Lavender will include overseeing the company’s business management unit, managing strategic revenue, and driving new business. She has previously held senior strategy and management roles at Wunderman Thompson, Dare Digital, Leo Burnett, and AMV BBDO.

“I am looking forward to applying my strategic approach to business management and relationship skills to the CX Lavender’s suite of clients across financial services, retail and automotive,” she said regarding her appointment.

Meanwhile, Parfitt has been with CX Lavender for four years. He had previously worked with Westpac Group, AMEX and NBN as well as RAA and Ausgrid.

“Strategy at CX Lavender is going from strength-to-strength. We’re fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to take the lead on an ever-more diverse breadth of projects with clients – from consulting on customer strategy, to creating connected digital experiences, to helping clients get more from their marketing automation,” Parfitt said.

He added, “At the heart of everything is our dedication to putting the customer’s self-interest first to help our clients fuel their continued growth.”