Havas Media wins Starward Whisky account, releases first work
Havas Media Melbourne has won the media account for Starward Whisky and has launched its first work for the Melbourne distillery.
The media campaign, ‘Whiskey Done Different’ kicks off the partnership between the client and agency across OOH and digital, with creative work via Wunderman Thompson. It’s the brand’s first media agency of record.
Starward marketing director, Brendan Moynihan, said the campaign showcases the journey the distillery is on in building authentic connections with “flavour obsessed consumers” around the world.
“Our campaign reframes the perception of how whisky should and can be enjoyed. It features fun and disruptive creative that introduces the next generation of whisky drinkers to our award-winning and distinctly Australian spirit.”
Havas Media Melbourne GM, Naomi Johnston said: “Starward is a growing brand that’s going places quickly and we are thrilled to be partnering with the Starward team on this journey. It’s exciting to work with a ‘dare to be different’ brand that’s willing to use media to engage their audience in unexpected, non-traditional ways.”
Havas’ remit will include strategy development, media planning and implementation across offline and digital media, as well as brand awareness activity, dedicated product launch campaigns and social media presence.
The campaign has seen street poster placement across locations in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with a digital campaign focused on YouTube, social media and other contextually placed digital channels.
The past 12 months have seen a flurry of movement at Havas Media, most notably with Mike Wilson stepping down from his chairman role at the start of this month. Wilson was named chairman, in the newly created role in 2019. At the same time, the company announced Matt Houltham would step into the CEO role of the group across Australia and New Zealand. Houltham was in the role for just 12 months, before Virginia Hyland took over as CEO in November 2020 following the acquisition of the Hyland Agency, completed in August 2020.
Beauty brand The Body Shop expanded its remit with Havas Media Melbourne in May, after appointing the agency to its media account last year.
Credits
Client: Starward
Media Agency: Havas Media Melbourne
Creative Agency: Wunderman Thompson
Social Content: HotGlue
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Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
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