Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
This week:
OMD has promoted Amanda Watts to managing director, Sydney. Her career with OMD began 15 years ago in Singapore, and she has spent the past seven years in leadership roles with OMD Sydney.
ABC Radio has revealed Bruce McAvaney will be a member of its commentary team, just days after revealing a partnership with Nine for Paris Olympics coverage,
The recently announced ABC deal with Nine means live coverage of Olympic events can be broadcast to metro areas of Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin and the Gold Coast.
UM has appointed Brittany Crowley as head of investment, Sydney. She will join the media agency’s national senior leadership team and report to managing director Ben McCallum.
Crowley brings nearly 20 years of experience in the media industry and joins from PHD, where she was co-head of investment. She has also worked at Mediacom as group account director.
Brian Lesser has been appointed as the new Global CEO of GroupM. He will succeed Christian Juhl, who is stepping down after five years to take up the new position of president, corporate development, at WPP.
Joshua McDonnell will depart from PHD Australia after almost three years as the agency’s marketing director. McDonnell, who worked as a media trade journalist before moving to Adland, will leave the Omnicom Media Group agency next month for GroupM and Mindshare as growth and marketing director.
Nine journalist Jayne Azzopardi will replace Brooke Boney in the news chair on Today.
Gavin Sommer spoke to Mediaweek this week about joining AFFINITY in the newly created role of general manager.
One of the longest and most successful overseas TV correspondent postings is over with the decision to end Hugh Whitfeld’s gig in London. Seven’s European bureau chief will be staying with Seven. His new role will be national news desk director and foreign editor.
Bench Media has made two senior appointments: Sebastian Diaz from senior digital solutions specialist to the newly created role of head of media innovation, and Nate Vella, previously senior digital strategist to brand strategy lead.
CX Lavender has promoted Claire Austin and Rusty Nelson to creative director roles.
It’s Friday has launched full-service media to deliver connected experiences for brands, led by newly appointed Michelle Miroforidis, who will spearhead the connections media strategy.
ARN has promoted Bec Ellem to group business director for the network’s Melbourne independent agency team.
Val Morgan has made multiple appointments and promotions across BrandFit, its group strategy and client solutions team. Jo Scott has joined as head of strategy, bringing 18 years of strategy and business experience within media and communications agencies.
The outdoor media company has also promoted Lizzy McDonald to group strategy manager and Diana Demetri to group client solutions.
Christelle Quillien is expanding her role as group client solutions manager to lead the post-sale implementation team across the Cinema and Outdoor businesses. Cassandra De Francesco and Ben Foyster have also been promoted to the role of client solutions manager, while Eden Coleraine joins the team from Carat as strategy executive within the strategy team.
The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song, has appointed senior creatives Danny Pattison and Max Rapley as associate creative directors.
VML has appointed Richard Williams as the group executive creative director for its Melbourne and Sydney offices, joining the agency in September.
DDB Sydney has appointed Jack Nunn as creative partner to lead the McDonald’s account.
InfoSum has promoted long-time chief operating officer Lauren Wetzel to chief executive officer. She takes over from Brian Lesser, who has led InfoSum as chairman and CEO since 2020. Lesser will return to GroupM.
The Royals have announced that Dan Beaumont, director and partner of ten years, will depart from the company by the end of this month. The agency confirmed with Mediaweek that Beaumont’s responsibilities will be handled by co-managing partner, Andrew Siwka.