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BlackBerry hires Tongue’s John Du Vernet as acting marketing director

BlackBerry’s seven-month search for a marketing director has come to an end – for now, at least – with the temporary move of John Du Vernet into the job, Mumbrella can reveal.

Du Vernet is managing partner of BlackBerry’s strategy agency Tongue, one of the architects behind BlackBerry’s ‘Wake up’ campaign, one of the most talked about teaser stunts of 2012.

BlackBerry informed Mumbrella that the move is not permanent, although no date has been set for when Du Vernet will return to Tongue.

Du Vernet takes on the role of acting marketing director.

BlackBerry is currently gearing up for the launch of the BlackBerry 10, a product on which much depends for the struggling tech firm.

The marketing director position has been vacant since Matthew Ball was promoted to MD in July last year following the abrupt exit of Ray Gillenwater, who left after just three months in the top job.

Bondi Ice Bergs 'Wake up.' campaignBlackBerry’s ‘Wake up’ teaser campaign was the subject of much industry chatter, with some initially thinking that rival Samsung was behind it.

The teaser, which was devised by Tongue, featured speed boats trailing banners, a flashmob outside Sydney Apple Store and a mysterious video blog by Nate ‘Blunty’ Burr.

However, the campaign was heavily criticised in industry circles when the reveal came, with Naked boss Mike Wilson labelling it ‘pre-digital age’.

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