Joe Talcott appointed CMO of Michael Hill
Jewellery chain Michael Hill has appointed one of Australia’s best known marketers Joe Talcott as its chief marketing officer, Mumbrella can reveal.
Talcott is a former chief marketer for McDonalds and also News Corp Australia and was also chairman of industry body the Australia Association of National Advertisers (AANA) from 2008 to 2012.
The new chief marketer for the retail chain, which is based in Brisbane, told Mumbrella: “I moved up to Queensland a couple of years ago and we had settled into a Brisbane lifestyle when I got the call a few weeks and was actually surprised that there was a position like it in Brisbane.”
“I went in and what impressed me was the business that was successful in Australia and New Zealand and that the growth markets were in the United States and Canada,” he said. “I’m a North American by birth and Australian by emigration so as I told them I speak both languages — Australian and American.”
For the last year and half Talcott has been running his own consultancy Creatism.is but said he was excited to again have the opportunity to grow a business and cited his experience with McDonalds as a former director of marketing in both Latin America and Asia Pacific in helping growth retain businesses.
“When I went in I saw a company that I think is ready to go through a pretty significant growth phase and that’s something I’ve enjoyed doing throughout my career.”
Michael Hill’s agencies are OMD Brisbane who run their media buying and creative agency Colenso BBDO who were appointed in November last year. Talcott said he would be looking at the relationships but it was not his intention to review them at this stage.
“I will of course be looking at (the agency relationships) but not look at changing them but just to try discover how things are working out. I must say I was happy to hear they have appointed Colenso BBDO because I have worked with them in the past and have a lot of respect for their work.”
Talcott replaces Sue Szylvester who moved to become managing director of consultancy Blackshoe Pty Ltd last month.
Nic Christensen
Congratulations Joe.
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