Tag: Media agency

Sydney, Australia – Media agency Initiative has announced the promotion of Ryan Haeusler to the newly created role of national head of communications design and Emma Greenhalgh to Sydney head of communications design.

The leadership promotions come as the media agency seeks to elevate its planning offerings for its clients.

Haeusler joined Initiative in 2015 and previously held the position of Sydney head of communications design. In his new role, he brings with him years of experience, including that of spearheading the LEGO account that has been recognised for its quality and innovative media planning in the ANZ marketplace.

Haeusler is also known for his innate ability to lead his team to consistently deliver idea-led, culturally empowered ecosystems that drive effectiveness, which is evident in the projects he has worked on before.

Meanwhile, Greenhalgh, in her appointment, will step in to take Haeusler’s former role as Sydney head of communications design. Prior to her role, she served as the communication design director for IAG.

Greenhalgh strongly advocates for industry causes and has been instrumental in leading planning for NFP “WhatAbility”,  a disability support service that specialises in community service.

Both promotions are effective immediately, and Greenhalgh will be reporting directly to Haeusler. The latter will also report directly to the chief strategy and product officer, Chris Colter.

In these new appointments, Colter shared that he couldn’t be prouder to recognise the talents of two of the agency’s most outstanding team members and expand their remit further across the agency and their clients.

He said, “Ryan and Emma are two fiercely intelligent, collaborative, and creative craft leaders and have been the driving force behind a lot of Initiative’s success and the success of our clients. They have a proven track record in making the impossible possible, in architecting some of the most integrated, innovative, and, most importantly, effective work for our clients, and in designing new planning solutions that keep us on top of our game. I can’t wait to see them create the next era of Initiative.”

Meanwhile, on his promotion, Haeusler said, “I’m thrilled to be extending my remit into the Melbourne and Perth markets and to get access to all the amazing people and clients that come with it. Initiative has always put a major focus on strategic media planning as a craft, so I’m super excited to see what Emma and I can build (and break) to make it even better.”

Greenhalgh also added, “Initiative’s culture encourages high achievers to aim for the top, and I love the fast-paced environment. Ryan’s shoes are big ones to fill, but I am confident I can bring new perspectives to the role and continue to help our clients stay ahead of their competitors via an enhanced comms design offering and thought leadership.”

Singapore – IPG Mediabrands’s media agency Initiative has announced its recent affiliate agreement with IG Square Pakistan for its second new market launch: the Initiative Pakistan office.

The affiliate office aims to expand the agency’s network footprint across 14 different countries in the APAC region including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Speaking about the collaboration, James Smyllie, president at Initiative APAC said, “Initiative has had an exciting 2023, with our launch in New Zealand, and now our affiliate partnership with IG Square, creating Initiative Pakistan.” 

“Initiative’s continued expansion into growth markets is testament to the prevailing success of our unique proposition which is steadily building Fame & Flow for brands across the Asia-Pacific region,” Smyllie added. 

Adnan Shaikh, director and chief operating officer at IG Square Pakistan supported this particular announcement and said, “The extension of our collaboration with IPG Mediabrands by introducing Initiative to Pakistan is a dream come true. Not only does it signify another step towards enlarging IPG’s footprint in this market, but it answers the industry demand for global tools and experience with local knowledge under one single umbrella.”

The Initiative affiliate relationship with IG Square Pakistan is set to take effect immediately upon announcement.

Sydney, Australia – Following a competitive pitch, global sports footwear and apparel brand, New Balance, has appointed Mediahub as its strategic media partner in Australia and New Zealand.

The appointment will see Mediahub undertake full funnel strategy, planning and activation across all channels for New Balance.

The collaboration was immediately put into effect with New Balance’s first running campaign ‘Run Your Way’ which was recently launched globally. Utilising Mediahub’s unique SCOUT Insights tool, the campaign is managed out of Australia and executed across Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the UAE.

Talking about the partnership, Sue Squillace, CEO of Mediahub, said the appointment further reinforced the strength of Mediahub’s offer and its ability to strategically partner with iconic global brands.

“At the heart of our capability is data-driven strategy informed by our unique SCOUT Insights tool, which was a central part of our offer to New Balance across multiple markets,” Squillace explained. 

Joel Hanlon, head of marketing for New Balance Australia and New Zealand, added, “We are thrilled to extend our already successful partnership in North America and EMEA into Australia and New Zealand enabling New Balance to drive a consistent brand message and effectiveness across the globe in what will be a big year for us in these key markets.”

Meanwhile, Darren Tucker, regional director of New Balance, mentioned, “We were impressed by Mediahub’s ability to pinpoint core elements of our audiences across so many different markets.  In particular, they were able to identify New Balance ‘Global Independents’; an audience profile that we can localise to ensure we are reaching the right people, the right way, at all points on the customer journey.”

New York, USA – Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group has announced the appointment of OMG EMEA CEO Guy Marks as CEO of PHD Worldwide. He will be replacing Philippa Brown, who will step down from the role after almost 5 years of handling it. 

In his new role effective October 1, Marks will be headquartered in London and will be reporting to OMG global CEO Florian Adamski. His successor as leader of OMG EMEA is expected to be named in the following week.

Marks joined OMG in 2014 following Omnicom’s acquisition of Mobile5, the global UX, design and tech consultancy service that he co-founded. As CEO of OMG EMEA, he helped establish Omnicom’s Transact connected commerce and retail media consultancy in the region; and co-architected the expansion of OMG’s TRKKN analytics and cloud consultancy from five European countries to 20 markets across APAC, EMEA and North America.

Speaking on his own appointment, Marks said, “As the CEO of PHD – an agency that was born from a transformative concept of media as a strategic tool – my priority will be assuring that every PHD account team around the world have the talent, tools, technology and collective commitment to excellence they need to deliver the transformative ideas, solutions and service that drive growth for our clients, our agency, and our people.”

Meanwhile, Adamski commented, “Guy is one of our industry’s most entrepreneurial leaders, with an approach that transformed first OMD’s and subsequently Omnicom Media Group’s offering in EMEA over the past six years. The fact that – at the same time – he was also one of the network’s key people coordinating Omnicom’s boots-on-the-ground Ukrainian relief and rescue efforts tells you everything you need to know about both his character and his leadership skills.”

Singapore – Global media company IPG Mediabrands has announced the launch of ‘Unified Retail Media Solution’, a dedicated business unit that will enable brands to intelligently manage their investment performance seamlessly across all retail media network.

Through the new business unit, IPG Mediabrands aims to bring transparency and trust to the space — powered by a unique tech platform focusing on unified audience, measurement, optimisation and intelligence. 

The solution also empowers brands with a holistic view of their performance, automated cross-retailer activation and optimization, maximizing sales and profitability.

‘Unified Retail Media Solution’ is led by Glen Conybeare, executive lead and global president for Reprise Commerce and Retail Media at IPG Mediabrands, and has been beta tested by IPG Mediabrands clients in the CPG, gaming and over-the-counter (OTC) sectors, and already has hundreds of bespoke audiences built out with a roadmap to hit over 10,000 by year-end.

“Retail Media Networks offer a huge opportunity for marketers. However, each network operates as a closed-loop system which makes it really difficult to drive ROI effectively. With dozens of retail channels as part of many clients’ investment strategies, it has been difficult to compare their relative performance. With our Unified Retail Media Platform, we have standardized a key part of the process,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eileen Kiernan, global CEO at IPG Mediabrands, commented, “Brands activating in retail media face the challenge of navigating through multiple closed garden networks, each with their own data approach, metrics and ROI methods. This complexity is amplified for brands that also sell their products through these retailers.”

She added, “Therefore, it is crucial for brands seeking to maximize their investment to leverage data and insight across networks with an ability to make intelligent decisions in real time about what’s working and not.”

Australia – Creative communications agency one green bean (OGB), has now been added to Taco Bell Australia’s roster of collaborating partners. 

Starting this July 2023, OGB will now be working across influencer, social media and PR projects to support product launches and brand building for Taco Bell Australia. 

As of now, Taco Bell Australia currently has 39 restaurants across the country. The company plans to set up shop in several more locations nationally.

Amber Abbott, managing director at one green bean, said that they are thrilled to provide marketing and advertising support to Taco Bell in Australia. 

“The brand has a cult following around the world and we’re looking forward to earning attention among an Aussie audience for an adventurous brand,not afraid to do things differently,” she said. 

Speaking about the partnership with ogb, Andrew Howie, chief marketing officer at Taco Bell South Pacific, mentioned, “Since launching in Australia in 2017, we’ve seen steady growth of the Taco Bell brand locally with restaurants opening across QLD, NSW, VIC, and WA. We’re excited to appoint One Green Bean to support us as we enter a new stage of growth in Australia.”

“We know how important it is as a challenger brand in the market to build brand love and an agency like one green bean is perfectly placed to help us do that – whether it’s through Influencer, Social or Earned media,” he added. 

Gurugram, India – Havas Media Group India, the media expertise division of Havas India, has announced a significant elevation of its senior leadership team across functions to further strengthen its structure. 

The strategic restructuring is part of the agency’s expansion of its business and service portfolios through collaborations and increased efficiency, in line with its unprecedented growth.

According to Havas, the elevation of the senior leadership team is a testament to the agency’s commitment to delivering unparalleled media solutions to its clients. The newly elevated senior leadership team will bring their extensive industry experience and expertise to drive the agency’s growth, foster innovation, and enhance its service offerings. 

Two of the key elevations are Roopali Sharma and Harbir Singh, now as president – North 1 and North 2, respectively, at Havas Media India. The two will further strengthen client partnerships, profitability, and business relations.

Saurabh Jain has also been elevated as president – South, Havas Media India and will be responsible for scaling up the momentum and growth of the agency’s success story in South — a key focus market for Havas Media India. 

Meanwhile, Manish Sharma, in his elevated role as managing partner – West, Havas Media India will continue making significant contributions to Havas’ successful journey in the West region. New business acquisitions, growth of the existing roster and service strategy will be integral to his role.

As the Chief Strategy Officer for Havas Media India, Sanchita Roy will likewise drive strategic innovation and growth to the next level for clients and the agency alike. She will be bringing with her a deep industry experience and vision which made her a fitting candidate to represent the agency at global platforms like Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and Campaign Agency of Year – South Asia in 2022.

Lastly, Rohan Chincholi has been appointed as managing partner – digital services, Havas Media India, where he will strategise on expanding and enhancing the agency offerings and outcomes to ensure being at par with the digital industry’s evolution in current times.

The team will report to Uday Mohan, managing director, Havas Media India. Commenting on the elevations, he said, “I feel great pride in seeing the team on a rapid growth path. The elevations are aimed at recognizing the team’s commitment and further strengthening our core ensuring heightened focus on sustainable growth and unlocking greater possibilities. Best wishes to all for the new journey with additional responsibilities.”

Havas Media Group India CEO, Mohit Joshi also said, “We are delighted to elevate our core leadership team to new roles. Their exceptional dedication and business acumen have been critical to our success.”

He added, “In 2023, we have set very high growth targets for ourselves, and I am confident that the team will tap into attaining exceptional results aiding us create a meaningful difference in the country’s media eco-system. Congratulations to all.”

This follows Havas Media Group’s recent media mandate wins, including PUMA India and Paradise Biryani.

Gurgaon, India – Media agency Mindshare in India has been appointed by car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki to handle its media mandate. With a focus on innovative strategies and technology-driven solutions, Mindshare aims to leverage its expertise in performance, data, digital, and content to co-create innovative solutions for Maruti Suzuki’s growth in the coming years.

Moreover, as a flagship agency from GroupM, Mindshare’s expertise, creativity, and strategic vision will help steer the Maruti Suzuki brand towards a faster lane of growth and success, operating from its Gurgaon office.

Shashank Srivastava, senior executive officer of marketing and sales at Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “We are looking forward to this partnership with Mindshare (Group M) as our integrated media agency. We expect to leverage Mindshare’s strengths in the media industry to synergize and optimise our media spends and co-create ground-breaking initiatives that will give us an edge in today’s competitive automotive industry. We look forward to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.”

The win is also a significant milestone for GroupM, making it one of the largest media wins in the region further demonstrating its commitment to delivering exceptional results for clients and driving growth for businesses.

Meanwhile, Helen McRae, CEO of Mindshare Asia Pacific, commented, “This win by Mindshare in securing the media mandate for Maruti Suzuki is a significant milestone for the advertising industry in India. It highlights the agency’s exceptional capabilities in providing innovative and technology-driven solutions to their clients. We are excited to see the strategic vision and expertise of Mindshare to steer Maruti Suzuki towards sustainable and responsible growth. This partnership is a testament to the agency’s commitment to delivering exceptional results for clients and driving growth for businesses in the region.”

Lastly, Amin Lakhani, CEO at Mindshare South Asia, stated, “We are thrilled and deeply honoured to have been awarded this esteemed mandate. We are committed to delivering outstanding results for Maruti Suzuki. Our continuous investments in new products, platforms, and people have helped us build a future-ready team that can partner with clients in their growth journey. We are excited to co-create innovative solutions using our expertise in performance, data, digital, and content to drive Maruti Suzuki’s growth in the coming years.”

Australia – Independent media agency Half Dome has announced a new brand positioning centred on the agency’s promise to unlock the ‘Whole Potential’ of its clients and people. The rebrand comes as the agency celebrates its growth and sixth year of operation.

The brand refresh includes a complete update of the company’s visual identity and brand assets, as well as the development of a new website in partnership with digital agency Straight Out Digital, plus a new, expanded Melbourne office later this year.

Moreover, the new brand positioning reflects the agency’s commitment to attracting and retaining clients and people who share a ‘challenger mindset’.

“Working with clients in the marketing space for our whole existence, Half Dome has a sound understanding of what constitutes a strong brand strategy and brand campaign. We have invested heavily in a rigorous process which engaged leaders in the strategy and creative fields to ensure that we practiced what we preach,” said Half Dome’s co-founder and Head of Product, Will Harms.

He added, “Where we have landed, with our promise to clients and staff of unlocking their ‘Whole Potential’, is both a celebration of what we are already doing, whilst simultaneously providing the necessary ambition which will fuel our product and culture growth over the coming years.”

Joe Frazer, co-founder and head of growth at Half Dome, also explained, “‘Whole Potential’ is a rally cry to attract like-minded clients and individuals; our research indicates a sentiment in the market from clients that they could and should be getting more from their agencies. Our unique positioning sits at the intersection of holding groups, independent agencies, and consultancies – drawing on the best parts of each.”

Half Dome also engaged external brand consultants Untangld and creative agency By All Means to assist the agency to develop its positioning and new brand identity. The discovery process included extensive interviews with staff, clients, the industry, and external partners for more than nine months.

James Needham, strategy director of Untangld, said, “Half Dome is often perceived as a ‘hot indie start-up’, when the truth is it’s a genuine alternative to the big boys. It was a pleasure working with them on a strategy for the business built around ambitious growth and real authenticity.” 

Meanwhile, Mat Cummings, managing partner of By All Means, commented, “We love working with the Half Dome team on client projects, so to be given the opportunity to bring the By All Means creative skills to the Half Dome brand was a project we couldn’t wait to take on. The challenge, as with any good brand, is bringing to life the truth via inspiring stories and visuals, and communicating what’s in it for all stakeholders, all the time future-proofing the brand.”

Half Dome is an Australian-owned full-service media agency established in 2017, which delivers services across paid media planning and buying, SEO and performance creative production, and works with challenger brands across all markets in Australia.

Melbourne, Australia – Industry superannuation fund HESTA has named PHD Melbourne as its media agency of record following a competitive pitch. The remit will include media strategy, planning, investment, and optimisation across all channels.

“We’re excited to work with PHD to continue evolving our Super with impact positioning in market, to reach new members across Australia, and help them face their future with confidence,” said Hesta’s Chief Experience Officer Lisa Samuels.

Lizzy O’Connor, group business director at PHD Melbourne also commented, “We really enjoyed this pitch as we immediately developed a strong chemistry with the team at Hesta, being aligned on brand values and a desire to deliver great work.”

Meanwhile, PHD Melbourne’s Managing Director Simon Lawson likewise shared his excitement over the partnership and building a long-term partnership with HESTA based on the principles of ‘authenticity, transparency and mutual respect.’

HESTA’s media mandate was previously handled by full-service media agency Initiative.