A new firestarter
Telecom has announced that non-executive director Kevin Roberts has retired from the board of directors after serving for nearly six years, and that the board has appointed Ido Leffler as an independent non-executive director to replace Roberts.
Roberts, the chief executive worldwide of Saatchi and Saatchi, has been a member of the Telecom board since August 2008.
Telecom chairman Mark Verbiest thanked Roberts for his contribution and commended his efforts for the telco.
“Kevin has helped guide Telecom through one of its most transformative phases. This includes the de-merger of Chorus and more latterly a bold repositioning strategy that is culminating in the change of name to Spark.”
Verbiest says the board undertook an extensive domestic and international recruitment process for a replacement before deciding to appoint Leffler.
“Ido’s appointment will help Telecom’s development of exciting new digital services as we transform to Spark and tackle the challenges and opportunities of the digital era. His experience positively complements the mix of skills and experience of the existing board members.”
Return from the desert
MediaWorks has summoned Ross Flahive back from Dubai to take on the role of The Edge TV content manager in the lead up to the 27 June launch of the channel.
Given that his CV includes previous stints at both The Edge radio station and C4 music television channel, his cross-channel skill set seems well suited to the position, which will require him to lead a team across both mediums.
“The Edge TV will offer fans a new dimension to The Edge experience,” he says. “The Edge HQ is having a complete studio refit, setting up our team of TV content producers with the latest television tools. We’ll be able to generate content with the radio teams, and deliver it to the TV audience faster than ever before. This is a big step forward in the evolution of radio, for both listeners and clients, and it’s exciting for The Edge to be leading the way.”
And, in another move related to the impending launch of the channel, Matt Headland has been promoted to the position of director of network sales/integrated content and Edge TV sales.
In this position, he will serve as the head of the integrated content team at MediaWorks Radio, and be responsible for integrated radio advertising solutions. He reports to Paul Hancox, the commercial director for MediaWorks Radio and TV.
Headland has been network sales manager for MediaWorks Radio since August 2012. He joined MediaWorks from EMI Music NZ, where he was country manager. His previous roles include national sales manager at MTV Networks NZ, head of Capitol Music Group, and various marketing and sales roles with Publicis Mojo NZ, Telstar Records UK, Warner Music NZ and The Radio Network.
In his time at MediaWorks Radio, he has gained a reputation for creating opportunities to the company’s brands and platforms in innovative and creative ways that set the company apart from others. According to a release, he and Hancox have been integral in the development of The Edge TV.
The final MediaWorks mover is Fiona Hamilton, who has shifted into the role of general manager of agency sales and TV programme partnerships, a position in which she leads a team that supports the integration team and serves TRB and agency clients.
Sealy (not posturepedic)
Augusto has announced that Oliver Sealy will be joining the agency as a content strategist.
This move sees him leaving TVNZ after a six-year stint, during which he worked as a producer from 2008 to 2014, while holding the dual role as channel manager from 2012 to 2013.
While at TVNZ, he oversaw the development, launch and operation of five linear television channels, ranging from commercial, free-to-air and subscription channels, through to online and government funded services.
At its simplest it was working out clever ways to use content to build brands and fan bases . At its most complicated it was integrating social apps into live television formats and managing commercial sponsors and media partnerships, or the ’fun stuff’ as it’s called. Before that, he paid his dues at ad agencies (as an account director at TBWA), radio stations, newsrooms and youth TV shows.
Sealy expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of joining the company.
“I’ve always been more interested in the effects of content than the actual making of it. Luckily for me almost everything I’ve worked on in the last decade has been less about serving an audience and more about creating one. Bieber said it best: I’m all about the fans y’all.”
A new flag on our shores
Multiscreen Media has announced their expansion into the New Zealand market with the appointment Ursula Mattar as local general manager. Mattar joins from a four-year post at MSN NZ where she led the sales and operations teams.
In her new role, she will lead the new team in Auckland, which aims to provide Kiwi consumers with Multiscreen Media’s display, mobile and video services.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be working on the development of the New Zealand branch of Multiscreen Media and bringing their exclusive products into our local market,” she said in a release. “Our unique capabilities in media trading combined with deep understanding of market differences is refreshing in the current trading landscape.”
The expansion of Multiscreen Media comes as key publisher representation contracts for New Zealand and Australia are being finalised.
“The New Zealand market has displayed a growing need for the integrated trading solutions that Multiscreen Media provides,” says commercial director Sebastian Berry. “We’ve been planning a dedicated presence there for some time, and we’re delighted that the opportunity to work with the right people and partners has now presented itself.”
A trio lassoed
Independent agency Lassoo Media & PR has landed a trio of new international clients as part of a global reallignment and has, as a result, added three more staff.
Following on from the Emirates account win, which came as part of its alliance with the Havas Media Group, the company has now also added DE Master Blenders, Blue Wing Honda and Greenlane Biogas.
DE Master Blenders is a multi-national Dutch company famous for its coffee and tea. In the local market, Lassoo is working on three of DE’s brands – the Moccona coffee, the new L’OR Espresso Coffee capsules and Bach Espresso beans and freshly ground.
In terms of the Blue Wing Honda, Lassoo will be working with the New Zealand-owned company, which distributes Honda ATVs, motorcycles, power equipment and marine products.
Rounding up the trio of wins is Greenlane Biogas, a multi-national New Zealand-owned and based company and developer and supplier of technology for upgrading biogas to renewable biomethane.
“These are all great wins for Lassoo and we’re developing a range of exciting broad-spectrum campaigns for them. While they’re a diverse group of clients, all three offer their customers outstanding quality products, which makes them a good fit for Lassoo’s own culture and focus on success,” says Lassoo founder Bridgette Smith.
To accommodate this growth, the agency has taken on three new staff members, two in media and one in PR. Joining the media team are Natasha Andrews (pictured left), previously TVNZ’s general manager of sales operations, and Richanne Hizon (pictured middle), a digital expert with a degree in commercial law.
Communications graduate Hannah Parr (pictured right), who cut her teeth helping to grow NZ retail success story, 3 Wise Men, joins the PR team and will be working across a range of consumer and corporate clients.
Green leader
Organic food manufacturer Pitango has announced the appointment of Graeme Laurence as its new managing director.
This move comes only two years after the company was navigated out of a receivership incurred in late 2012.
“Pitango is a much loved New Zealand brand, one which I’m excited to share with many more countries as we focus on exporting further in 2014,” says Laurence.
Laurence has 19 years’ experience in the FMCG grocery industry, beginning his career at WoolWorths in the 1990s and progressing to senior sales and marketing roles, including sales and marketing director at Davies Food and sales director at Goodmen Fielder. Before joining Pitango, he ran his own sales agency LionShare New Zealand, a marketer and distributor to the wholesale and retail sector.
In his role as managing director, Laurence will focus on product development while maintaining Pitango’s brand identity.
“Pitango is a brand that really appeals to my love of good quality food that is accessible for everyone,” says Laurence. “To me it sums up what is great about the New Zealand food industry. I am really excited about helping to grow the brand and broadening its appeal to consumers.”
Moving house
Public relations consultancy Boyd PR has moved to new offices in Newmarket at 1/17 Crowhurst Street after a long stint in Parnell’s Textile Centre.
“In the last year the company has grown so we needed a bigger space and after 12 years at the Textile Centre, which we loved, it was time for a change,” says managing director John Boyd. “Before we moved into the new offices in Newmarket they were gutted, renovated and modernised. So it’s a fresh and creative space to conduct business from in what is a busy year for us with our existing clients busier than ever and new clients coming on board.”
Along with the move, BPR has also appointed Doug Casement as a senior consultant with a specific ICT focus.
Casement, a former journalist and previously CIO at Renaissance Corporation/Yoobee Ltd, has 20 years experience in the ICT sector and has developed strong relationships and a huge depth of knowledge in that time.
“Doug brings a wealth of expertise in the ever evolving ICT area and has a good understanding of the challenges the sector faces,” says John Boyd.
“BPR already has a strong focus in this area and with Doug on board we will be able to enhance this and offer specialist knowledge for existing and new clients.”
Prior to joining Renaissance, Casement was manager of IDC Research’s IT Management Programme for New Zealand and before that managing editor and publisher of Computerworld and monthly magazine CIO.
Also on board at BPR as creative consultant is former advertising art department director and graphic designer Tony McNeight who works with BPR to provide creative solutions for clients across everything from brand refreshers to comprehensive communication plans.
Because he’s worth it
L’Oréal’s Brendon Urlich has been appointed country managing director of Vietnam with returning Kiwi ex-pat Martin Smith (pictured here) replacing him as New Zealand executive general manager.
Smith returns to his homeland from a successful 13-year career with L’Oréal in Europe and Asia, most recently as Asia Pacific zone director.
He began his career in the company’s New Zealand professional products division as a brand manager before being posted to brand and general management roles for L’Oréal in the UK. Smith has also held regional management roles in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Urlich joined L’Oréal in 2012 after an international career involving marketing, sales and management roles in ASEAN, Europe and Middle East territories.
Both appointments are effective from August 1, 2014 with Martin Smith reporting to Johan Berg, the managing director of Australia and New Zealand.
