Australian Grand Prix Corporation appoints Ensemble to handle creative
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) has handed its creative account to Ensemble following a pitch process, with the corporation also appointing Jane Ballantyne to the role of group manager of marketing, Mumbrella can reveal.
The AGPC pitched the account last September, with Ensemble beating out incumbent AJF Partnership for the account.
Ensemble will take over the account from March 1 and will fulfil creative and content requirements across the Formula 1 Australia Grand Prix and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Speaking to Mumbrella Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott said: “We have two of the most iconic sporting events in this country and we want to partner with organisations that are going to take us forward creatively and strategically to the future.
“Ensemble, out of a very competitive field, presented a wonderful range of activation and opportunities that can bring our events to life and ultimately help us sell more tickets.”
Ensemble CEO Justin Ricketts said in a statement: “Our team is delighted to have been appointed and really looking forward to developing contagious creative solutions to market AGPC’s prestigious events over the next few years.”
The agency repositioned from primarily a branded content agency into a full service creative outfit following fellow IPD Medibrands creative agency Airborne being folded into Ensemble in August last year.
Westacott confirmed AJF Partnership were involved in the pitch process.
“AJF were well and truly in the mix and I thank them whole heartedly for the partnership they’ve had with us for many years,” he said.
“I know they’re winning lots of business in the marketplace. This was really not about anything to do with their performance which has been exemplary. It was about the very positive opportunities presented by Ensemble.
“We have gone through a competitive tender situation and what Ensemble inherit is a very strong position and a very strong foundation created by the predecessor agency being AJF Partnership.
“I can’t emphasise more highly what a great job they’ve done. What Ensemble does is present more opportunities to take our events further,” he added.
Ensemble’s appointment follows on from the corporation appointed Visual Identity to handle its digital account in July.
“That was a set and single project piece rather than something that is a longer and broader arrangement. The Ensemble arrangement will work for MotoGP and for Formula 1 and will lead our advertising development for both those events,” Westacott explained.
“The first work relates to the 2015 Motorcycle Grand Prix,” he added.
The appointment coincides with the corporation appointing Jane Ballantyne to the role of group manager of marketing following the departure of Misha Horsnell at the end of last year.
Ballantyne joins the corporation following nine months of consulting with Football Federation Australia. She has also consulted with the Victorian Government of Justice and was the manager of brand marketing for the AFL for six years.
“Jane is going to fit perfectly into the role, given her background in sport and marketing. She’s hit the ground running,” Westacott said.
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Miranda Ward
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Interesting announcement. These kind of accounts usually seem to go with big traditional agencies. Look forward to seeing the work. Congrats Ensemble
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How long has the GP Corp been going. How many agencies have they had?
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