Month in a Minute: October’s biggest agency stories
Mumbrella wraps up the biggest news of the month across media, creative and PR. In October, WPP AUNZ's CEO resigned after 12 years, Ford shifted agencies after 75 years, We Are Social snared DDB Sydney's planning partner, Opr restructured, the NT Government prepared to tender its media account and Suncorp confirmed it is reviewing its media agency arrangements.
October’s creative agency wrap:
1. Mike Connaghan resigned as WPP AUNZ’s CEO
After 12 years at the helm of advertising and communications holding group WPP AUNZ, its CEO Mike Connaghan resigned.
2. Ford moved its creative account from WPP to BBDO after 75 years
WPP’s agency JWT initially won the Ford account 75 years ago, with the holding group subsequently creating dedicated a bespoke Ford Motors agency GTB.
3. Y&R Melbourne’s managing director Matt Farrugia resigned
Mumbrella understands Farrugia’s resignation isn’t related to the merger of Y&R and digital agency VML.
4. KWP won Tourism NT’s creative account
The win for the independent agency came six months after the agency lost SA Tourism’s creative account to TBWA in April.
5. WPP won the global media, creative and PR account for GSK
WPP’s Grey Group was the incumbent for the creative account, while Havas and Edelman held the digital and PR roles.
6. JWT’s ECD exited to focus on family and “outside interests”
Kieran Antill had been with the agency as its executive creative director for three years and left the agency to “focus on his family and outside interests”.
7. BCM bolstered its media offering and hired UM’s Chris Platt as director of media and engagement
Platt joins the agency from his two-year stint as Brisbane managing director of media agency UM.
8. Host/Havas won the creative account for Oroton
The Havas-owned agency won the account from incumbent agency TBWA.
October’s PR agency wrap:
1. Opr restructured its management team
The PR agency appointed a series of managing partners to lead its specialist business units.
2. The ICONIC appointed Adhesive to its PR account
Adhesive PR is now responsible for the online retailer’s consumer and corporate communications.
3. Graham Sweet joined We Are Social as head of strategy
Sweet was previously a planning partner at DDB Sydney.
4. Edelman won the PR account for Danone
Danone, a multinational food products corporation, has handed Edelman its corporate, healthcare, consumer and brand communications accounts.
5. Changi Airport appointed Adhesive as its Australian PR agency of record
Prior to appointing Adhesive PR, Changi Airport Group did not have a PR agency of record in the AUNZ region.
6. Keep Left opened a Sydney office
The Sydney office is led by Libby Britten, who has recently been promoted to strategy and client service manager.
7. NAB’s marketing manager of media and partnerships joined BetEasy
In his new role at BetEasy, Parker is its brand, media and communications manager.
8. Flourish PR appoints Pauline Dellit as head of creative
Dellit’s appointment aims to help the agency move away from a traditional PR model.
October’s media agency wrap:
1. Suncorp confirmed it was reviewing its media account
The financial services provider has confirmed the review after Mumbrella speculated it had put its media account out to pitch in August.
2. The Northern Territory Government prepared to pitch its media account
The account is worth between $20m and $40m.
3. WPP lost its third global account in just one week as United Airlines switched media agencies
Dentsu Aegis Network’s Carat will handle the global media planning and buying account, while Merkle will be responsible for its social media and targeted marketing.
4. American Express ended its 20-year relationship with Mindshare, moving its media account to UM
UM will now handle American Express’ media planning and buying.
5. Group M launched an addressable TV business in Australia, Finecast
Finecast will be run by Group M’s VP of media and activation at [m]PLATFORM, Brett Poole.
6. Thinkerbell won Melbourne Racing Club’s media account from incumbent Vizeum
Melbourne Racing Club is the only client Thinkerbell is solely handling media buying and planning for.
7. Starcom retained Snooze’s media account
The media agency has handled Snooze’s media planning and buying for over 10 years and will continue to be its media agency of record.
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