Australia – UM Australia has appointed Vanessa Stuart to the newly created role of head of new business and marketing, joining the national leadership team. The role is effective immediately.
Stuart has 15 years of expertise in marketing and communications, spanning content production, digital, experiential and events, and broadcast television, working as a client lead for major brands such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nestle, Toyota, Bonds, and L’Oréal both domestically and globally.
Stuart holds a Juris Doctor degree at the University of New South Wales, with a particular focus on media law and intellectual property. Her most recent position was client service director at WPP AUNZ agency Maverick, where she directed and oversaw the client service team, as well as driving and leading new business pitches that generated more than $10 million in revenue year on year.
Prior to Maverick, she was a senior leader at whiteGREY and was managing director at C4 Communication where she won and managed new work for Telstra and Sony. Some of her campaign leadership and implementation at C4 included the launch of Telstra’s Next G network and the launch of Sony 3D technology.
On her appointment, Stuart said, “Joining UM is a natural career progression for me and I can’t wait to dig my teeth in and bring my passion for creative and content creation to produce memorable customer experiences for UM’s client base.
She added, “UM’s commitment and dedication to its people and the agency’s quest to create an environment in which everyone has the chance to thrive, was also a compelling reason for me to join the team, I can’t wait to get started.”
Anathea Ruys, CEO of UM Australia, shared, “She was delighted to have someone of Stuart’s calibre driving business development for UM, in a period when the agency is experiencing phenomenal success and growth. Vanessa is absolutely the right person for the job. Along with her broad experience as a client leader for agencies across the globe, she joins us with a proven track record of leading new business pitches for some the largest brands in the world, and kicking some serious growth goals for several agencies.”
Ruys concluded, “Our customer-centric and people-focused approach teamed with our leadership teams’ combined capabilities will undoubtedly open up huge opportunities for clients. I’m looking forward to Vanessa playing a key role in communicating this message and meaning to our current and prospective clients, and driving further growth for the business overall.”
