Tag: Design Director

Australia – Creative technology agency whiteGREY has announced the appointment of Nerida Murphy to the newly-created role of design director. Murphy will lead whiteGREY’s brand design offering and further elevate the level of craft within the agency.

She previously held creative leadership roles at FutureBrand Australia and at Re (M&C Saatchi). She has also led her own design business bringing an impressive level of valuable business experience and the importance of cross-team collaboration to build trusting client relationships and deliver world-class creative work to whiteGREY. 

In addition, she has worked on some of Australia’s most iconic brands, including Optus where she successfully led a team of designers, writers and strategists as the brand evolved from a telco into an entertainment provider.

Speaking on her new role, Murphy said, “I am extremely passionate about creating human-centred, purpose driven brand designs that connect, with deep meaning, to their audiences. Joining whiteGREY’s team was a no-brainer for me, the agency bursts with creative power and its client roster is varied and impressive. I can’t wait to see what growth in brand value and elevating customer experience we can achieve through brand design.”

Meanwhile, Chad Mackenzie, chief creative officer at whiteGREY, said that Murphy’s impressive background and track record of pushing the boundaries of design brings a new creative perspective to the team.

“We love Nerida’s perspective on design and her belief in how design can help tell a compelling brand story and influence customer experience. Her passion and craft are second to none and she has already made a positive impact on the creative output. As we continue to grow and expand our creative capabilities Nerida is poised to play a pivotal role in elevating our brand design offering as well as our creative offering as a whole,” he stated.

Sydney, Australia – Following the official launch of its specialist property marketing division, Property & Place (P&P), full-service independent agency Enigma has announced the appointment of two newly created roles. 

Dean van der Merwe is named as design director whilst Bianca Holtsbaum is appointed as the new senior business manager. 

P&P was launched as Enigma looks to expand its client portfolio in the burgeoning property sector. Working alongside the division’s head and Enigma’s creative director, the duo’s remit encompasses combining strategic thinking with ambitious creative across the division’s branding and design property projects to deliver innovative solutions for client growth.

Head of P&P Akira Galvin said both van der Merwe and Holtsbaum were key hires for the growing division, bringing a complementary combination of skills and boosting the client offering across its architecture, placemaking and retail brand and design capabilities.

“I am thrilled to welcome both Dean and Bianca to the team. Dean’s keen eye and deep understanding of luxury property marketing, coupled with Bianca’s knowledge of retail and hospitality sectors, will bring new and exciting perspectives to our growing team and I’m looking forward to seeing them both settle into their new roles,” said Galvin.

With over 15 years of architecture, design and brand strategy experience garnered from working at a range of leading firms across Australia – most recently as lead designer at Bullet Studios – van der Merwe brings specialist capabilities in all aspects of architecture, interiors and wayfinding. 

He has led complex projects to market across various sectors including commercial, multi-residential, boutique residential and hospitality venues, most recently for clients including Pointcorp, Third.i, Traders in Purple, Meriton, Sekisui House, and Lewis Land Group. 

On his appointment, van der Merwe said, “Helping to build a specialised offering in an already thriving full-service agency was a unique opportunity not to be missed.”

“I’m excited to be part of a new division which provides clients with strategically-led design solutions underpinned by media insights; that’s a true point of difference and will help lead commercial growth for our clients. Working alongside Brad (Stevens) and Akira, I’m eager to start creating some beautiful work. With market-leading tools in our toolbox, backed by a talented and results-driven team, I can’t wait to see what we can collectively deliver,” he concluded.

Holtsbaum, previously brand manager at Merivale where she managed large-scale brand partner activations and end-to-end integrated campaigns, brings wide-ranging account management & client service capabilities. As senior business manager, her remit covers project management of integrated marketing campaigns and portfolio development, across brand and creative for all clients within the P&P division.

Commenting on her appointment, Holtsbaum said, “I am very excited to join Enigma. The agency has a great reputation and a well-known track record, particularly in property. There is an energy in the agency that is infectious. We’re working on some incredible work and have some exciting things in store. I am looking forward to being a part of this team and working alongside Akira.”

Galvin concluded, “Both Dean and Bianca are passionate individuals and their appointments further strengthen Enigma’s specialist property and place offering and will contribute to the continued growth of Enigma.”

Both van der Merwe and Holtsbaum report directly to Galvin and are based in Enigma’s Sydney office. The appointments are effective immediately.

Sydney, Australia – Wunderman Thompson in Australia has promoted Melissa Radman to the role of national design director. In her long-time career, she has been promoting design and creativity especially for up-and-coming talent in the industry, as a guest lecturer and industry advisor, portfolio judge and mentor.

Since returning from maternity leave, she has donated her time to the Perth Advertising and Design Club committee, bringing events to the industry for mental health and indigenous creativity.

Radman and her team have delivered consistently with their wholistic approach to strategic brand design including recently for West Australian Ballet, Steel Blue Boots, HSBC and state government utilities and initiatives. 

They are also driven by purposeful ambition and take pride in all the agency’s brand design projects being an integrated extension of a client’s brand strategy and creative output. 

Speaking on her appointment, she said, “I’m honoured to be appointed as National Design Director, and excited to welcome Nikki to the team for her internship, and hopefully beyond. The opportunity to work across the national Wunderman Thompson client base and stretch the boundaries of our strategic design thinking is amazing for the team, and for me personally”.

Meanwhile, Wunderman Thompson CEO Matt Parry commented, “Mel and her team bring a huge level of experience and creativity to our design offer nationally. It was a natural decision to place her in this important national role. We’re also excited about adding Nikki to the team and looking forward to giving her career a great kick-start at WT”.

In addition, the design team will be bolstered by the addition of Nikki Singh, one of four recipients of the Helen Lansdowne Resor (HLR) Scholarship. The scholarship is an international opportunity that aims to amplify historically marginalised voices in the creative industry. It provides females and non-binary university students the opportunities and support they need to successfully join the advertising industry’s creative ranks.

Australia – The global digital and conversational agency, Versa, in Australia, has announced two senior appointments, as part of its growing uptake in conversational AI technology across various sectors. 

The new hires are Vanessa Tout, the new global head of client partnerships and growth, and Michael Oso-Hughes, the new design director.

Tout brings with her 15 years of experience in client engagement across the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. She has led strategic digital and commerce programs for brands including GM Holden, T2, and Marks & Spencer, as well as Goodyear Dunlop, among others. Tout has previously worked as the client partner at digital experience firm Isobar, and the client director at marketing and technology company Digitas UK.

In her new role, Tout will be taking responsibility for driving growth across new business and existing client partnerships in key markets, including Australia, the US, and India. By leading the newly formed Growth Team, Vanessa will bring together marketing, new business, and client services experts, providing a holistic experience to clients at every stage of engagement.

Meanwhile, Oso-Hughes joins VERSA with a strong pedigree working on some of the brands including Samsung, Microsoft, and Disney, as well as Unilever, and Cancer Institute of NSW at agencies including Isobar, Soap, and The Monkeys.

In his new role, Oso-Hughes will be leading VERSA’s design offering, from approach and methodology through to voice UX and UI. He will also be adding his expertise to the agency’s team of conversational AI experts shaping the future of conversational design.

Commenting on her appointment, Tout said, “I’m thrilled to join VERSA to drive the next phase of growth in conversational AI, contact center automation, and voice technology at a time when meaningful dialogue between brands and people has never been more important.”

Oso-Hughes also commented, “It’s an honor to join the VERSA team of thinkers, problem solvers, and creators working at the cutting edge of conversational AI globally. I’m already blown away by the caliber of work we’re delivering.”

VERSA CEO, Kath Blackham, shared that they are excited to have two amazing talents of the quality of Tout and Oso-Hughes join them to take on these incredibly important roles. 

“Vanessa is one of the best in the business, with loads of experience leading digital transformation engagements at scale and galvanizing cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional results, while Michael has already made a big impact in a short amount of time, both through his work and his infectious personality and passion for his craft that makes everyone around him better too,” said Blackham.