Bastion nabs ABC’s Gaven Morris as new division head
Recently departed ABC director of news Gaven Morris has joined a new division of Bastion Group as CEO.
The new digital transformation consultancy, Bastion Transform, will offer digital advisory, strategy and organisation renewal consultancy services.
Morris has had an extensive career as a senior media executive, international editorial leader and journalist. During his time at the ABC, he led the launch of the ABC News channel. He was also part if the launch team for CNN.com Europe and he played a key role in building and launching broadcast and online news start-up Al Jazeera English.
Gaven Morris
In 2018, Morris also warned media companies of the dangers of getting too close to Google and Facebook (now Meta).
Bastion Founder and global CEO Jack Watts said: “For many years now, our clients have been seeking help to fundamentally transform their organisations to prosper in the new world. And for just as long we have been looking for the right partner to provide those services.
“Partnering with Gaven to launch our new digital transformation consultancy, Bastion Transform, is a phenomenal opportunity for our business, people and clients. We look forward to working with a range of clients, across industries and categories to guide them in delivering both their short and long term digital transformation agendas.”
As part of the rebrand, four Bastion agencies were also rebranded: Bastion Effect to Bastion Amplifiy, Bastion RM to Bastion Reputation, Bastion EBA to Bastion Experience, and Bastion Banjo to Bastion Creative. All ten agencies within the agency model are now under a single Bastion banner.
Morris said of his new role: “I can’t wait to help organisations and institutions seeking to navigate their way towards an increasingly digital future.
“This fourth industrial revolution requires a clear vision, building effective cultures and enacting purposeful plans to keep ahead of so much change.
“Achieving digital transformation and retaining trust don’t have to be competing forces – they can be complementary, and that’s the space in which Bastion Transform will offer help.”
Earlier this year Bastion named new co-CEOs for the Bastion Insights division, with Ali Dexter leading the Melbourne office and Peter Harris leading the Sydney office.
Recently rebranded Bastion Creative, Formely Bastion Banjo, also announced a new CEO earlier in the year, with Michael Godwin, former managing director of Wunderman Thompson Melbourne joining as its CEO in Melbourne. Godwin left Wunderman Thompson in late 2020 after ten years.
Bastion Group was founded by Fergus and Jack Watts in 2009.
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Olivia Kruimel is the managing editor at Mumbrella. She has more than 15 years of experience in journalism, communications and marketing. Her journalism career began at Fairfax Media (now part of Nine) and includes various B2B publications such as B&T, Travel Today and ALB. As a marketer Olivia has worked for Standard Chartered and various global law firms.
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