Omnicom Media Group is merging Foundation into Hearts & Science, effective 3 June. The Foundation brand will disappear, with the conjoined team coming under the Hearts & Science brand.
As part of the shift, current managing director of Foundation, Liz Wigmore, will become managing director of Hearts & Science, across both Sydney and Melbourne offices.
“The Hearts & Science brand has always appealed to me since it was launched globally back in 2016,” Wigmore said.
“I believe creating emotional brand connection (the Heart) and maximising the potential of data and technology (the Science), is vital for brands in today’s media landscape.
“So, the opportunity to spearhead the growth of the agency in Australia, as well as continue to lead the Foundation team, was an opportunity I wasn’t going to miss.”
She added she is “excited about the road ahead” and bringing the agency’s proposition to more brands in market.
Darren Stein, currently holding the dual roles of CEO at Annalect and managing director at Hearts & Science, will focus on building Annalect in response to market demand across AUNZ, the business said. He will continue to lead the digital and data transformation agenda for Hearts & Science clients across both regions.
Jane Stanley, CEO of Hearts & Science AUNZ, called the opportunity “a dream come true.”
“Liz offers the extensive media leadership experience which is highly regarded by clients, partners and teams alike, and Darren will continue to advance our clients’ data and technology transformation through his best-in-market advisory capabilities and the Annalect services. We feel we have the perfect team in place to offer clients innovative communications solutions in an ever-evolving landscape.”
The agency was established globally as part of Omnicom Media Group in 2016, before launching in Australia in 2019. Late last year, it won the Cleaver’s Organic account.