Ben Shepherd to move from Maxus to Sound Alliance
Ben Shepherd, one of the best known voices on digital within media agencies, is to join online publisher Sound Alliance.
Shepherd’s Talking Digital blog was last month voted winner of media and marketing blog of the year by Mumbrella’s readers.
He is currently national digital director for Group M agency Maxus and a former associate director at Mindshare.
He will move from Melbourne to Sydney to become Sound Alliance’s commercial director, starting on March 1.
Sound Alliance, which is about to turn ten years old, includes In The Mix, Faster Louder, SameSame, MessandNoise.com & Qjump.
Sound Alliance MD Neil Ackland said: “I’ve known Ben for six years and we have always shared a similar view of where the Australian digital media landscape should be heading. Ben is undoubtedly one of Australian digital media’s thought leaders. Having the opportunity to work with him and lead the way with Sound Alliance is very exciting.
“Evolving, diversifying and improving our commercial model has been at the core of our success, so adding Ben to our team will undoubtedly take our commercial offering to the next level.”
Shepherd said: “Sound Alliance brings together two mandatories for a successful digital business – engaging, differentiated content and interesting, integrated and well executed communications ideas for advertisers. I really believe this is something Sound Alliance does better than anyone else and the opportunity to contribute to this is a compelling one.”
Sound Alliance is also to promote SameSame marketing director Tim Dugganto Group Marketing Director – responsible for the marketing efforts across the publisher’s media portfolio.
Sound Alliance, one of Australia’s leading diversified digital businesses, has bolstered its senior ranks with the announcement of two key appointments.
Ben Shepherd has been appointed as Commercial Director, effective 1st March 2010; and Tim Duggan has been promoted to Group Marketing Director – responsible for the marketing efforts across the Sound Alliance media portfolio including inthemix.com.au, FasterLouder.com.au, SameSame.com.au, MessandNoise.com & Qjump.com.au effective immediately.
Shepherd, current National Digital Director for Maxus and a former Associate Director at Mindshare, as well the award winning author of industry blog Talking Digital (http://talkingdigital.wordpress.com), joins Sound Alliance on the eve of the group’s tenth anniversary. With solid strategic experience across clients within the FMCG, Auto, Technology and Tourism segments, Shepherd brings a unique perspective and skill set to the Sound Alliance business.
“Constantly evolving, diversifying and improving our commercial model has been at the core of our success, so adding Ben to our team will undoubtedly take our commercial offering to the next level, said Neil Ackland, Sound Alliance Managing Director.
“In an ultra competitive media market, investment in our team and their depth of knowledge and passion for the industry will ensure we continue to stand out from the competition. I’ve known Ben for six years and we have always shared a similar view of where the Australian digital media landscape should be heading. Ben is undoubtedly one of Australian digital media’s thought leaders. Having the opportunity to work with him and lead the way with Sound Alliance is very exciting,” continued Neil Ackland.
Ben Shepherd went onto add “Sound Alliance is an independent, credible and market-leading group of digital businesses that are truly unique. The combination of leading music, youth and lifestyle websites, a sophisticated ticketing platform and killer creative capabilities offers great potential for growth” said Shepherd. “I am really excited to be working within a group with such a strong creative and commercial platform and can’t wait to get started.”
“Sound Alliance brings together two mandatories for a successful digital business – engaging, differentiated content and interesting, integrated and well executed communications ideas for advertisers. I really believe this is something Sound Alliance does better than anyone else and the opportunity to contribute to this is a compelling one,” said Ben Shepherd.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Great move Ben.
Oh hang on I have no objectivity at all as we’ll be working together.
Still, great move!
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Wonders if this move will slow Ben’s prodigious, and often entertaining industry commentary at all?
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I’ll be very disappointed if it does, Reevesy.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Great move… really ? to a niche music site ???
Call me a sceptic however I’d be surprised to see any other National Digital Director moving to a role such as this.
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@thecrow Talented people working for a publisher…heaven forbid.
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The Crow – if you think Sound Alliance is a niche music site then I guess there’s some work to do in terms of perception of SA.
With 4 leading sites, a ticketing business and a creative agency I wouldn’t call it ‘niche’ at all … but obviously I’m not an impartial/objective observer.
We can claim and leverage niche when it suits a specific, targeted objective. But demonstrate reach, engagement and an ABA audit tick of approval when broader briefs require.
But yes Ben, work to be done on perception.
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Well done Ben, look forward to working together!
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