Social@Ogilvy has been “reinvigorated” with Mike Watkins now heading up the agency and Oliver Maisey jumping on board as executive creative director.

Special Group has announced the appointment of ex-Ogilvy employees Angus Hennah and Sandra Daniel as creative director and business director, respectively.

Last week, Coca-Coca Life hit Kiwi shelves, giving Kiwi consumers their first opportunity to purchase the stevia-based variant. But long before anyone in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington or Dunedin was able to taste the drink, the Coca-Cola team headed south to the rustic setting of Otira to give the 87 permanent residents living there the first sampling rights. The proceedings that unfolded were captured on film and then edited into Coke’s new TVC, which carries the ‘Let Life surprise you’ slogan.

Several weeks after kicking off its 60th anniversary via a nostalgic TVC by Ogilvy, Holden has now extended the celebrations to its website with a series of vignettes that aim to tell the stories of fans of the brand. The video compilation is currently being hosted on a microsite called ’60 Years Loyal’, and was created by Dentsu Aegis-owned digital creative agency Isobar, which launched in Auckland in February. Updated with further information on Ogilvy’s contribution to the campaign.

FMCG is a pretty tough business to be in at the moment. And with Nielsen stats showing around 60 percent of all grocery purchases in New Zealand are bought on discount, the highest percentage of any developed nation, brands are trying everything they can to boost sales and margins. Geometry Global, the world’s largest shopper marketing and activation network, has recently opened its doors in New Zealand and it reckons it can help.

In a change of tack from giving out free cutlery, knives and glassware, the embattled Countdown followed New World’s Little Shop suit recently and hawked DreamWorks Heroes 3D collectible character cards and albums. And kids and adults alike have loved it, with general manager of marketing Bridget Lamont saying the campaign saw millions of cards in the hands of Kiwi parents and kids, and more than 100,000 albums sold out across the country.

Brands are increasingly turning their noses up at traditional forms of advertising in favour of publishing content that doesn’t just interrupt the audience but also engages with it. Ogilvy’s digital group head and creative director Greg Whitham takes a look at what works, what doesn’t work and what brands need to do to ensure that their publishing efforts drive results.

Coca-Cola-owned Powerade has introduced a new app and updated its website in an effort to encourage Kiwis to lead healthier lifestyles. Rather than focusing on the Powerade product range, the new website instead provides users with a performance hub where they can set fitness goals, receive training programmes, track their performance and map runs. These digital upgrades coincide with the release of the sports drink’s ‘Performance is everything’ campaign, which was recently activated via an Ogilvy-created TVC that features All Blacks Liam Messam, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea battling on a rugby field through a heavy downpour.

Fewer than two years after getting a toe in Coca-Cola’s door by winning the Lift Plus and Mother accounts, DDB has now lost both energy drinks to Ogilvy. Updated with comments from Ogilvy executive director Paul Manning.

Clink your glasses for Holden’s heart racing, Vodafone’s period drama, Hallenstein’s kaleidoscope and Whittaker’s chocolate art.