David Brown to head up Iris
David Brown – a co-founder of digital creative agency Soap – has been appointed as head of digital at marketing agency Iris. This follows the appointment of Ponnusamy Appu to the role of senior developer.
The announcement:
Independent marketing agency iris has appointed digital heavyweight David Brown to head up its expanded digital operation. Brown, who joins this month from XM Asia, is known for co-founding Sydney boutique agency Soap Creative and has worked for other leading agencies including Euro RSCG. He will report into the agency’s managing director Craig Mapleston. In addition, iris has also appointed Ponnusamy Appu, who joins from OgilvyOne as Senior Developer, alongside a team of three new front and backend developers.
Brown, who has led the strategic and creative vision for digital campaigns for major global brands including Diageo, Dell, Barclay, Sony, Nokia, adidas, Peugeot, Virgin Atlantic, MSN and Orange, will spearhead iris’ strong digital offering. He will advise the agency’s clients, which include Diageo, Sony Ericsson, Tiger Beer, Heineken, adidas and DKNY Jeans, on maximising online opportunities as part of integrated or standalone campaigns. His work has been recognized by organizations such as New York Festivals, Cannes and the NMA’s and he has also been on judging panels for the Creative Circle Awards, AWWWARD and EPICA’s and the 2010 Cannes Cyber Lions.
Appu, who has been involved in the creation of high-profile digital projects such as Yahoo’s Purple Hunt website and Singtel’s Football Frenzy web portal, will be charged with leading iris’ team of interactive developers.
Brown said: “There is no denying digital is firmly entrenched in our everyday lives – to that effect I see digital as an enhancement. It can make an experience richer, more valuable, shareable, social, portable, informative, easier or emotional. I am very excited about the opportunity with the team at Iris to help build upon the positives and begin this enhancement across their folio of brands and it’s customers to help create a new layer of conversation and value.”
Craig Mapleston, managing director of iris Singapore, said: “It’s brilliant to be bringing in such high quality new people to iris. David Brown is a unique talent of the highest calibre. He has proven strategic, creative and technical skills, plus the ability to see the bigger, integrated picture. I am sure he’s going to add a fresh new dimension, not just to our digital output, but to all of our work.
Iris Singapore, which launched in 2006, serves as a strategic hub for Asia Pacific. Now 60-strong, the agency is one of the fastest growing agency networks in the region. Its client portfolio includes Sony Ericsson, Sony, Unilever, Shell, Diageo and Tiger Beer.
Last month, iris Singapore announced it had been appointed to launch brand campaigns for two new clients: the Barclays Singapore Open and DKNY Jeans.
Source: Iris press release
Interesting that a guy who started a year after Soap was established, and lasted less than a year, is described as a founder (edited by mumbrella for legal reasons)
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May be Anon, but how boring would the story be if it read David Brown (who?) has been appointed Head of Digital at Iris from XM Asia (err, who?).
C’mon, SEX sells!
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