Former Zenith MD Karen Halligan to join KPMG in new media advisory role
Former Zenith managing director Karen Halligan has joined KPMG Australia to lead the consulting firm’s newly-formed Media Value Advisory practice.
Halligan, who left Zenith in September last year, will answer to Paul Howes within the KPMG’s Customer, Brand and Marketing Advisory business.
In recent months, the firm’s fast growing business unit has appointed former Saatchi & Saatchi staffer Carmen Bekker to lead a newly formed CMO advisory team and One Green Bean managing partner Louise Pogmore to head a social media consulting group.
Partner Carmen Bekker with newly-appointed Karen Halligan
In her new role, Halligan – who previous has worked at Bohemia, Slingshot and Mediacom before taking the position of Southern Cross Austereo’s commercial director – will lead a team in Sydney and Melbourne assisting KPMG’s clients with issues affecting the media industry’s revenues and business models.
Halligan said in a statement: “The Australian media industry had been my passion for over 20 years, there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of this industry as it continues to evolve.
“I have had the pleasure of working with clients, agencies and media owners and think there is a real opportunity to bring this all together and work with them to deliver value. I look forward to bringing the expertise and capabilities of KPMG to this exciting sector.”
Announcing the appointment, Carmen Bekker, partner, KPMG Customer, Brand and Marketing Advisory said: “With Australian ad spend valued at over $15bn, the media value chain is more important than it has ever been to our clients.
“We see a lot of inefficiencies in the media ecosystem that benefit no one, and we want to help make it better for all parties.”
Paul Howes, partner-in-charge of KPMG Customer, Brand and Marketing Advisory added: “The launch of Media Value Advisory is a direct response to the boardroom needs of our clients. Between Carmen’s extensive global experience and Karen’s leadership in the Australian media landscape the new team is well equipped to help clients navigate the challenges of the media landscape.”
The new practice is aimed at large Australian and international organisations, including advertisers and publishers, and will look at technology changes, disintermediation and measurement along with helping clients understand how to optimise revenue streams and maximise return on investment.
Kaz is a gun, a great hire for them.
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Well done Karen! Great going!
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