Business of Media
Enigma executive Chris Laws exits creative agency after claims of harassment made against him
High-profile creative agency executive Chris Laws has been stood down by his employer just days after he was publicly accused of sexual misconduct by a former colleague, reports News Corp’s Sophie Elsworth.
Laws, who has emphatically denied the claim, was managing director of advertising, public relations and branding agency Enigma until this week.
On Thursday, a company spokeswoman told The Australian that Laws had “left Enigma and is no longer an employee”. “The alleged events occurred before Mr Laws was an employee at Enigma and it is now a legal matter for Mr Laws,” she said.
Laws has threatened to sue Ella Campbell after she claimed he had harassed her when they worked together several years ago at another agency, Born & Raised. Campbell, who has also retained lawyers, has been a long-time critic of the advertising sector’s workplace culture, which she describes as being anti-women, with a “tendency to favour males”.
‘Frill-neck lizard’: Ben Roberts-Smith accuser denies influencing inquiry, admits leaking ’gossip’
An SAS leader has denied in court trying to influence official war crime investigations by going on national television but conceded he aired “petty, childish gossip” about Ben Roberts-Smith when speaking with journalists, reports News Corp’s Perry Duffin.
The anonymous soldier has said he wanted Australia to take the war crime allegations about Roberts-Smith “seriously”, though the court has heard it rose to the point of “obsession”.
The warrant officer class two, known as Person 7, said he appeared anonymously on 60 Minutes programs with his face blacked out to speak about an alleged war crime murder.
Agencies
Howatson+Co appoint Ben Handberg as head of PR
Howatson+Co has announced the appointment of Ben Handberg as head of PR.
Handberg joins the agency after spending five years at Mango Communications. He was head of consumer for three years and group account director for two years prior.
Among the clients he worked with include Unilever, McDonald’s, Volkswagen, J&J, Amazon, Proximo Spirits and Ferrero. Handberg has also led PR for Foxtel’s Grave of Thrones and The Burnt Christmas Tree for the Australian Red Cross.
His work also includes releasing an autobiography for Bubble O’Bill called ‘O is Me’, launching Afar fragrance for 1800 Tequila, and projecting a Big Mac onto Sydney Tower.
And over the years Handberg’s creativity has been recognised by Cannes, Effies, Spikes, and AWARD award shows.
Wunderman Thompson Australia promote Nick Muncaster and Paulina Embart
Wunderman Thompson Australia has announced two leadership promotions in the company.
Nick Muncaster’s current role as managing director Melbourne will now also include the company’s Sydney office.
Paulina Embart is also moving up with her promotion to general manager of Melbourne. She first joined the company in 2015 as a group account director before stepping into her most recent role as national director of operations.
Matt Parry, CEO Wunderman Thompson Australia, said of the appointments: “We have exceptional talent across the company. In their roles, Nick and Paulina have created real momentum and inspired step-change growth for our clients and the Wunderman Thompson business. I can’t think of two individuals better placed to take up bigger leadership positions.”
whiteGREY welcome Izzi McGrath and Madeline Catanese to the agency
Creative and digital agency, whiteGREY has announced the expansion of its creative department with two new appointments.
Izzi McGrath steps into the role of art director, along with Madeline Catanese who joins as a copywriter.
Both McGrath and Catanese are graduates from AWARD School and join whiteGREY from creative agency, The Royals, where they created impactful work including Clementine Ford’s response to the milkshake consent ad and campaigns for Wild Secrets, Australian Super and Bakers Delight.
McGrath has experience working at Clemenger BBDO Wellington and CHE Proximity. She was also previously nominated RMIT’s student representative for AGDA and was the first University student from a Creative field to ever be awarded the Mitsui Educational Foundation Scholarship.
The scholarship saw her travel to Japan to learn about the country’s history, business, industry, contemporary and traditional culture, and relationship with Australia.
Catanese previously spent three years The Shannon Company, where she became the lead day-to-day client contact for the likes of VicHealth, Slater + Gordon, Sustainability Victoria and Industry SuperFunds. Prior to this, she studied Professional Communications at RMIT.
Radio
Kyle Sandilands drops NCAT appeal after gun licence refused
Radio king Kyle Sandilands has abandoned plans to take NSW Police to court after the agency slapped down his application for a gun licence, reports News Corp’s Derrick Krusche.
The 50-year-old, who recently revealed he and fiancee Tegan Kynaston are expecting a baby, had applied for the licence in 2020, but last September he was informed by police they would not allow him one.
Sandilands then sought a review of that decision by launching proceedings in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Solicitor Tom Bateman appeared on behalf of the KIIS FM star at NCAT just before Christmas and a hearing date was set down for this month.
However, a NSW Justice spokesman confirmed to Confidential this week the matter never went to a hearing.
Television
Carrie Bickmore replacement on The Project revealed
Chrissie Swan and Georgie Tunny will keep Carrie Bickmore’s seat warm when The Project host takes a two-month break, reports News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka and Jonathon Moran.
Bickmore made the surprise announcement on Tuesday night’s show, revealing she would be on an extended break from next month to enjoy a family adventure in Europe.
“Chrissie and Georgie are well known and loved by Project viewers and I am delighted to see them both take larger hosting roles,” The Project executive producer Chris Bendall said.
“We have a lot of exciting plans for the show this year. Carrie’s seat is in safe hands until she returns mid-year with Chrissie and Georgie joining Lisa (Wilkinson) who will continue to deliver outstanding feature stories from around the country alongside her existing hosting duties.”
Sport Media
Luke Beveridge apologises for outburst at journalist Tom Morris
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has apologised for his extraordinary attack on a journalist during a post-match press conference on Wednesday night and admitted he had “overstepped the mark”, reports News Corp’s Rebecca Williams, Ronny Lerner and Jay Clark.
Beveridge claimed he was “highly emotional” when he unleashed an unprecedented tirade on Fox Footy’s Tom Morris following the Bulldogs loss to Melbourne.
The premiership coach accused Melbourne-supporting Morris of “gutter” journalism and “preying” on the Bulldogs after the reporter broke a story around team selection.
But Beveridge backtracked in a prepared statement on Thursday, saying his outburst was not “consistent” with the Bulldogs values.
As part of the apology the Bulldogs agreed to donate $20,000 to youth mental health organisation Orygen.
Adelaide Crows the first AFL club to produce its own free-to-air television and radio programs
Adelaide football fans will get “unrivalled access” to their favourite players as the Crows become the first club to produce its own free-to-air television and radio programs, reports News Corp’s Antimo Iannella.
After eight years on the small screen, the Crows Show is expanding to the airwaves with a new one-hour weekly radio show presented by former ruckman Sam “Sauce” Jacobs.
Co-hosted by Mark “Thomo” Thomas, the Triple M show will combine humour and analysis and “delve in the players’ lives away from football”.
“It’s something unique to have within Australia and it is so important as these shows have the ability to take you further into the club,” said Jacobs, who played 184 matches for the Crows before leaving in 2019.