Landor
Stuart Sproule will be leaving TBWA for Landor Associates according to an announcement made yesterday by the global brand consulting firm. Sproule will report the Landor CEO Lois Jacobs at its New York office on Monday as the new president of North America, and managing director of New York. Sproule previously served as president at TBWA's Digital Arts Network, where he helped build the network's digital services, integration and collaboration.
Stuart Sproule will be leaving TBWA for Landor Associates
Jacobs calls Sproule a “Superb leader and respected client strategist,” with an “Extensive experience in digital branding and marketing,” which she believes will “Further expand Landor's capabilities” in these key areas. Besides serving as president at TBWA, he has also spent 12 years at AKQA as MD in both Shanghai and San Francisco, and has worked with brands such as Target, Verizon and Visa. At Landor, which is a division of WPP's Young & Rubicon Group, he'll be working on top accounts such as Barclays, BP, Diageo and FedEx.
Business Insider
Gary Kakoulli, the former head of the Financial Time's mobile division, has recently been appointed as commercial director for the UK and EMEA regions of the US business and technology news website Business Insider. His appointment to the London-based office arrives only a week after the UK site was launched, and will see Kakoulli helping his former rival to develop strategic brand partnerships and drive mobile advertising revenue. At the Financial Times, he not only worked as head of mobile, but also held the role of head of digital learning and development.
Gary Kakoulli has recently been appointed as commercial director for the UK and EMEA regions of Business Insider
Julian Childs, Business Insider UK's managing director, said that Kakoulli is “And extremely versatile hire,” with “Extensive mobile expertise and digital sales experience,” which he feels will be “Crucial in engaging advertisers,” and reaching their target audience, whom he calls “The next generation of business leaders.” He adds that the idea to hire a commercial director with a history in mobile makes perfect sense, as over 50% of the publication's readers are currently accessing their content through mobile.
Th_nk
Finally, Th_nk, the UK independent digital agency, has named former AKQA managing director and global head of talent Jason Warnes as its new managing director in an appointment that will see Warnes oversees all operational aspects of the business, including overseeing client accounts. Warnes spent his time at AKQA as general manager between 2010 and 2013, working with blue-chip brands such as VW, Audi and Mont Blanc, and also helped the agency open an office in Berlin. In 2013, he became MD and global head of talent.
Th_nk has named Jason Warnes as its new managing director
Warnes will be working alongside a senior team which included chairman MT Rainey, strategy director Lea Simpson, and delivery director Steve Johnston, and will be reporting to Th_nk CEO Tarek Nseir. Nseir said they are “Really excited about everything Jason is going to bring to the agency,” adding that “Not only has he grown an impressive team,” and done the kind of work they love, but he’s also “A lovely guy that the team will really enjoy learning from.” Warnes called his new home “A fantastic agency with huge ambition and a shared passion for what digital can enable.” He is “Delighted to be joining a really smart team with the opportunity to deliver some amazing work.”
Big News In Australia!
Lavender
Lavender, Australia's leading independent full service agency has made two huge senior hires this week in the shape of Richard Smith and Brian Dargan. Smith joins as digital creative director from M&C Saatchi and Dargan will serve as head of strategy, and joins Lavender from 303Lowe. The appointments follow news that M&C Saatchi had poached Victoria Currio from Lavender for its customer engagement business Lida, so Smith's appointment could be seen as something of a karmic move.
Richard Smith joins Lavender as digital creative director from M&C Saatchi
Smith spent three years at M&C Saatchi's production arm, Make, heading up digital design. In his new role, he'll work with Marco Eychenne, Lavender's executive creative director, across all of the agency's accounts, which include Telstra, American Express and Le Coq Sportif. He previously worked on the “Where's my Wallet” campaign for the Commonwealth Bank, and has also spent time working at WiTH collective and BMF. Dargan, meanwhile, will be heading up digital and social strategy at Lavender. Prior to his time at 303Lowe, Dargan, who also has experience in architecture, also worked as strategy director at JWT's XM in Singapore , as head of planning at Digitas London, and as managing partner and planning director at Draftfcb London.
Brian Dargan will serve as head of strategy, and joins Lavender from 303Lowe
Will Lavender, the founder of Lavender, who himself has experience working for both M&C Saatchi and the Lowe Group, said of Dargan; “I love Brain's passion. More, I love that he was an architect before he got into digital; that background means he builds what he dreams.” He believes Dargan's “Exhilarating mind” will challenge and extend the company. Of his departure from M&C Saatchi, Smith said he made the move because the opportunity to work directly with Lavender and Eychenne was too good to pass on. He said that Lavender's “Blend of intelligent creative, data and technology are perfectly placed to embrace the new challenges for advertising and innovation ahead.
OMD Sydney
Stuart Bailey is the new cheif digital officer at OMD Sydney
Stuart Bailey has been named as chief digital officer at OMD Sydney, effective immediately. He joined the agency just over two years ago as national head of digital. Peter Horgan, OMD Australia's CEO, calls Bailey a “Digital Shepherd,” and living proof that OMD harbours the industry's best talent under its own roof. He said Bailey was “The perfect candidate for this new role,” aligning the agency's national offering “Across multiple stakeholders and driving digital innovation across this massive part of the business.”
Leo Burnett Melbourne
Nicole Ross has been promoted to the role of digital head at Leo Burnett Melbourne
Nicole Ross has been promoted to the role of digital head at Leo Burnett Melbourne, after almost two years spent as a digital executive producer. She replaces Luc Wiesman. Melinda Geerts, CEO of Leo Burnett Melbourne, said the appointment of Ross is a testament to the strength of her “Expertise and leadership qualities.” She adds that Ross' “Passion for technology innovation and her ability to manage digital teams and projects has seen her play a central role” in the success of the agency's business, and she looks froward “To taking digital to the next level,” with her at the helm. Geerts finally ads that she's “Proud to be able to fill the (head of digital) role by promoting from within,” and congratulates Ross on her promotion.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
