AJF Partnership nabs Wunderman Thompson MD Nick Muncaster and merges with Penso
Following the departure of AJF Partnership’s final founder, Adam Francis, two months ago, GrowthOps has appointed a new managing director to the business and merged it with digital agency Penso.
Nick Muncaster – the managing director of Wunderman Thompson until March this year – will oversee the merged new entity, which will retain AJF Partnership’s name. Penso is said to bolster the agency’s digital, CX and strategy capability and its geographical footprint.
Nick Muncaster will steer the new ship
The interim managing director of AJF Partnership, Con Frantzeskos, will move into a newly created role as the group chief growth and innovation officer.
The agency was founded in 2005 by Francis, along with Andrew Fabbro, Andrew Foote and Josh Stephens, with the latter two departing the business since the appointment of Con Frantzeskos as managing director in October 2022.
GrowthOps CEO, Clint Cooper, said the merger will see AJF Partnership expand its client portfolio to include tourism and leisure, alongside financial services and insurance.
“Over the past six months, the AJF team, led by Con Frantzeskos as the interim MD, has developed a robust three-year strategy that positions the agency as the world’s most sought-after retail and consumer growth partner,” he said.
“In the past six months, AJF has also transitioned from being a founder-led business, building and developing a high-performing team of experts bolstered by technology and industry-specific expertise.
“Nick has built a reputation for being an exceptional people-centred leader.
“And whilst he’s brilliant at partnering with clients and their teams, and highly respected by his staff, it’s also the combination of his strategic smarts and positive energy that mean he’s the right person for the agency.”
Muncaster said: “The opportunity to join the leadership team at an independent agency I’ve long admired, partner with stellar clients, work with a bunch of talented people that share the same ambition and be part of this next chapter is simply incredible and hard to pass up.
“I’m really looking forward to my new role within this wonderful dynamic industry.”
GrowthOps acquired AJF Partnership in 2017 for $21 million. It was part of what was known as Trimantium Growthops which was listed on the ASX until late 2020.
Got a tip?
Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
Linkedin
Have your say