Move and win roundup: Week of October 21, 2024

We Are Social Singapore has appointed Rodrigo Mitma as their new creative director. Mitma will be responsible for leading the creative team with fellow creative director, Daniel Foo, to deliver social-first, innovative, and effective work for clients. A Peruvian-native, Mitma has been based in Singapore for the last seven years, where he has led creative teams at DDB and McCann Health. Prior to moving to Singapore, Mitma worked at Grey and CARNE Prime Advertising House in Lima. His work has scored awards at the Effies, Clio, LIA and Spikes, and shortlisted at Cannes Lions and D&AD. 

Leo Burnett Australia has hired Nick Timms as senior copywriter. Timms joined Leo Burnett as a copywriter in 2021, before leaving to join The Core Agency, and now rejoins the agency in a senior role. He previously worked as an account executive at Burson-Marsteller and as a content creative for Herd MSL. 

Pepper Content has launched Pepper Creative, a new unit that blends strategy, creativity, and technology to deliver content solutions. Spearheaded by Sahil Siddiqui (ex-Dentsu Creative India) Pepper Creative aims to bring a fresh perspective to enterprise content solutions. The unit will operate as a dedicated content studio, and has already begun collaborating with major brands such as ITC, Unilever, Mankind, Britannia, Marico, HDFC Bank, DSP Mutual Funds, and Flipkart over various projects.

Celebrating its 10th year, That Marketing Guy has announced a series of project wins across brand building, campaign creation, and digital engagement. These include a rebrand for HeritageSG, a campaign for Mount Elizabeth, and a KOL engagement campaign for Yellow Ribbon Project and their Yellow Ribbon Prison Run, as well as working with them for the YRP Concert to wrap up YRP20 this year. 

ANZ Bank has appointed Leo Burnett as its lead creative agency in Australia. The agency won a competitive pitch, beating other shortlisted agencies including Dentsu, The Monkeys, and BMF. Incumbent agency Special Australia withdrew from the bank’s creative agency pitch in August.

72andSunny has appointed Wesley Hawes as incoming chief creative officer. Hawes will take up the mantle as ANZ chief creative officer following his upcoming departure from Innocean. Hawes' hiring comes at a time when the agency is experiencing growth, having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with new clients such as BCF, MLC, Afterpay, and realestate.com.au. Previously Hawes was executive creative director at Innocean Australia. He played a key role in the agency's big award wins, including the inaugural ARIA Adland award. He worked for clients such as Hyundai and the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Prior to joining Innocean, Hawes worked at CHE Proximity, Marcel Sydney, TBWA, and BBH London.

Sandpiper Group has appointed Joan Ng as associate director, based in Singapore. Ng brings nearly two decades of journalism experience, most recently as a senior correspondent at The Business Times, where she covered private markets and was a founding member of the ESG reporting team. At Sandpiper, she will support the firm’s financial and sustainability practices, focusing on private markets and sustainability communications.

Lotame has promoted Zuzana Urbanova to vice president of agency solutions, APAC. In her new role, Urbanova will lead agency partnerships across the region, focusing on growth through data collaboration, strategic media curation, and innovative platform technology. She will also drive Lotame's go-to-market strategy with major holding companies and independent agencies. Urbanova, who previously led data solutions sales at Lotame, has a track record of driving revenue growth and securing industry partnerships with agencies like Publicis and Omnicom.

In accordance with a media report, three former Salesforce executives, Ian Calpin, Vlad Silak, and Rich Wright, have launched a new consulting agency, Carbonx Data & Marketing, focusing on helping clients integrate Salesforce's data cloud and marketing cloud, including AI-driven solutions. Backed by Beryl8, Salesforce's largest independent partner in Asia, carbonx aims to optimise Salesforce investments, enhance customer experiences, and build sustainable, scalable solutions. The agency is set to grow across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider APAC region, with a focus on underutilised technology and customer experiences.

FCB Interface has appointed Sonam Gautam as head of design and executive creative director. With over 16 years of experience in the luxury and beauty sectors, Gautam has worked on brands like Pantene, L'Oréal, and Maybelline. She joins from Good Glamm Group, where she led creative strategies for brands such as MyGlamm and Manish Malhotra Luxury Makeup.

After two decades at the helm, Steve O'Connor is stepping down as CEO of JCDecaux Australia and New Zealand. Effective January 1, 2025, chief commercial officer Max Eburne and chief financial officer David Watkins will assume leadership as co-CEOs. O'Connor will remain with the company through the end of 2024 to ensure a smooth transition. "I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and I thank everyone who has supported me and the company. Max and David are well-prepared to lead the business into the future," O'Connor said. "I’m looking forward to spending more time on my cattle farm, travelling, and contemplating the next chapter of my life.”

According to media reports, McDonald's Australia, the country's third-largest advertiser, has launched a creative agency review, ending a 55-year partnership with DDB Sydney. According to reports, the fast-food giant is seeking an additional creative agency partner from its existing global roster to join its "award-winning agency village." This move comes as DDB Sydney also faces the challenge of defending its Westpac account. The pitch process is expected to conclude before the end of 2024. McDonald's retains DDB's Mango for PR and Omnicom's OMD as its media agency.

PR agency WE Red Bridge is on a winning streak, adding three fashion and beauty brands to its growing roster, solidifying its position in the luxury sector. The agency has secured partnerships with heritage Scottish cashmere brand Johnstons of Elgin, makeup artist Natasha Denona, and Chinese sustainable skincare brand Herbeast. Johnstons of Elgin has tapped WE Red Bridge for its China PR, aiming to connect with Chinese consumers and showcase its two centuries of craftsmanship. Natasha Denona, launching in mainland China via Sephora in October 2024, has tasked the agency with establishing its formulas at the forefront of the beauty market. The agency will work towards elevating Herbeast's brand awareness and communicate its C-beauty philosophy within the premium skincare market in China. 

Clemengers has strengthened its creative department with six new appointments. Joining the team are:

• Creative directors Heidi Kesselman and Anthony Cassidy, relocating from Singapore and the UK, respectively. Kesselman's experience includes freelance work for BBH and TBWA, as well as global roles with BBDO. Cassidy brings experience from brands such as Marks and Spencer, Arcadia Group, and Portas.
• The agency has also added creative resource director Lizzie Slattery, returning to Melbourne after seven years at We Are Social London.
• Senior creative Jake Blood joins from Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne. He has also held creative roles with M&C Saatchi, DDB Aotearoa NZ and Saatchi & Saatchi NZ. 
• Copywriter Talia Stone and
• Art director Zaneta Vincent.