Creative agency Joy appoints head of strategy
Michele O’Neill
Creative agency JOY has appointed a new head of strategy Michele O’Neill.
The announcement follows the Redfern-based independent being questioned over its ability to protect client confidentiality after working on a campaign for the rebrand of Mix FM to Kiis FM, with the artwork clearly visible through a window to passers-by.
O’Neill takes on the permanent role following a consulting part-time role earlier in the year. The new role has been created to help support co-founder Andrew Wynne.
O’Neill told Mumbrella: “It’s really exciting for me, I’ve been working in Europe and the US for 23 years so it’s a great opportunity to be back and be helping shape something. The most exciting thing about this agency is that it’s a genuine, joined-up offer.
“I’m planning on some quite key research projects I’m going to do next year, which will have us at what I believe is the cutting edge of how Australians feel about brands, their purpose and their role in community,” she said.
Her previous roles included two years as managing director of Veritas, nine years as global strategy director at Lowe+Partners, one year as chief marketing officer at The Baby Channel, 10 years as global planning director at Ogilvy Worldwide, five years as an associate planner at Ogilvy Australia and three years as a camerawoman, production at Channel Nine. She has developed strategy across an international portfolio of brands for Unilever.
Joy general manager Simon Ludowyke said in a statement: “Michele brings invaluable knowledge to the group with an impressive background across clients and countries. Her more recent exploration of behavioural economics and decision-making complements our new world-selling ethos, which aims to disrupt the traditional advertising model.”
Joy as also appointed Aaron Thomas as a group account director, responsible for the SBS and Subaru account. He joins Joy from Publicis Mojo, where he worked for just over three-and-a-half years as a senior account director and worked on various accounts including Australia Pork, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Taronga Zoo, Citibank and Optus. Previously Thomas worked for M&C Saatchi as a senior account manager and and as an account director for Reedmitiadeskaye.
“Aaron is smart, savvy and highly collaborative; he brings a wealth of experience across a range of categories and will be highly by our clients and partners,” Ludowyke said.
The announcement follows recent leadership appointments at Joy in September, including Simon Ludowke as general manager and Ron Taylor as chief operating officer
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