Bastion’s Jack Playfair Joins M+C Saatchi As Head Of Partnerships
Jack Playfair has been hired by M+C Saatchi as head of partnerships, a newly created role aimed at expanding the agency’s sport and entertainment capabilities. He joins after three years at Bastion, where he managed integrated brand collaborations for clients such as Gatorade, Kia and V Energy, and previously held commercial positions with Supercars, TLA Worldwide and Rugby Australia. In his new position, Playfair will oversee the full partnership lifecycle, from strategy and negotiation to activation and amplification, supporting M+C Saatchi’s shift toward participation‑led brand solutions. The move underscores the firm’s commitment to cultural‑driven growth for its clients.
Nic Fry On Confidence Opportunity And The Future Of Female Leadership
Nic Fry, former CMO of Merlo Coffee, contributes to IMAA’s Female Leaders of Tomorrow series, urging mentorship and equitable opportunities for women. She highlights the gender gap in AI skills and the risk of losing female perspectives as technology reshapes...
Meta Australia Lays Off Sales Staff Amid Global Restructure
Meta Australia is cutting roughly a dozen sales executives as part of a global restructuring that has eliminated about 700 roles worldwide, including staff in sales, recruitment and Reality Labs. The move follows the departure of Naomi Shepherd, the region’s...
Can You TikTok Your Way Out Of A Comms Crisis?
Brands are moving from scripted press releases to rapid, real‑time engagement on platforms like TikTok when a crisis erupts. The recent lawsuit against US protein‑bar maker David, amplified by meme‑style TikTok videos, illustrates how humor can generate buzz but also...
Pinnacle Foundation Expands ‘Make Awkward Awesome’ Campaign Via Cocogun
The Pinnacle Foundation has broadened its Make Awkward Awesome campaign with a new press ad running in major Australian magazines and newspapers. The effort targets parents, urging them to break embarrassment and discuss sexuality and identity with their children. Leveraging...
TV Ratings (25/3/2026): MAFS’ Danny Delivers Dunce-Like Domestic Drama
Married At First Sight (MAFS) continued to dominate Australian television on March 25, 2026, achieving a total national reach of 2.94 million viewers and an audience of 1.88 million. The episode generated controversy when contestant Danny made a sexist remark about moving...
Myer Celebrates GAP’s Arrival In Latest ‘My Store Is’ Series Via Howatson+Company
Myer has launched the latest installment of its “My Store Is” series to mark Gap’s return to Australia, featuring Olivia De Jonge alongside hip‑hop dancer Rome Champion, AFL player Isaac Quaynor and the Velos sisters. The campaign is produced by Howatson+Company and follows...
‘The Box On My Kitchen Bench’: Domino’s Hands Bureau Of Everything Creative Account
Domino’s has appointed Bureau of Everything as its creative partner for Australia and New Zealand, tasking the boutique agency with a full brand revitalisation. The collaboration will deliver a new brand platform, strategy and integrated campaigns, alongside menu updates slated for...
Emotive Nabs Ex-M+C Saatchi Director As Head Of Social & Content
Emotive has appointed former M+C Saatchi Sydney social strategy director Clement Simon as head of social & content. Simon brings award‑winning experience from campaigns for CommBank, Woolworths, Lifeblood and the Minderoo Foundation. His hire reinforces Emotive’s push toward culture‑first, earned‑first output. The agency recently...
Are Media’s CEO Jane Huxley Steps Down
Are Media announced that CEO Jane Huxley will step down after five years at the helm, with director of content Sally Eagle slated to take over in early April. Huxley guided the company’s shift to a multiplatform, women‑focused media group,...
Canva Eyes End-To-End Ad Dominance With $30M Doohly Deal
Canva announced the acquisition of digital‑out‑of‑home advertising platform Doohly for roughly $30 million. The deal adds a full‑stack ad‑delivery system to Canva’s design suite, enabling users to create, place and measure billboard campaigns from a single interface. It follows a series...
Publicis vs TTD: Stop Crying Baby, It’s A Sign Of The Times
Publicis Groupe announced it will no longer recommend The Trade Desk after a third‑party audit alleged transparency failures, prompting The Trade Desk to defend its platform. Omnicom has launched its own audit, while WPP and Dentsu have already reduced reliance...
TV Ratings (23/3/2026): Gia Kicks Up A Stink About The State Of Scott’s Waterside Home
Nine’s reality hit Married At First Sight pulled a total TV reach of 2.78 million, with an average audience of 1.78 million and nearly 600 000 BVOD viewers. During the homestay segment, contestant Gia publicly criticized Scott’s waterfront home, sparking a social‑media stir despite...
‘Stick In There’: CommBank’s Jane Adams Calls For Systemic Change To Improve Diversity At The Women Leading Tech Awards
CommBank’s executive general manager for HR in technology, Jane Adams, warned that women leave the tech pipeline at three critical stages – school, university and mid‑career – and called for systemic change to reverse the trend. She highlighted research conducted...
Mecca, AMEX & F1 Reveal How Brands Win In The Fast Lane At Cairns Crocodiles
At the Cairns Crocodiles event, Mecca, American Express and Formula 1 executives convened to dissect how brands can win in the fast‑lane of motorsport marketing. The panel, titled “From Trackside to Brandside,” highlighted a shift from traditional sponsorship toward authentic, fan‑centric...
ESafety Report Reveals AI Chatbots Are ‘Encouraging Self-Harm & Suicide’
Australia’s eSafety regulator released a transparency report exposing major gaps in AI companion chatbots such as Character.AI, Nomi, Chai and Chub AI. The services failed to enforce robust age checks, did not automatically refer users discussing self‑harm to crisis resources,...
Bastion Taps Peter Filopoulos To Lead Experiential & Partnerships
Bastion has appointed Peter Filopoulos as Managing Director, Experience, bolstering its push into sports, entertainment and experiential marketing. Filopoulos arrives with more than two decades of leadership in sport, media and large‑scale events, most recently consulting for Canadian Soccer Media...
BigAds Launches AI Agentic Planner In Australia
BigAds is rolling out its AI‑powered Agentic Planner in Australia as part of the Bud HyperLocal platform. The tool automates audience creation, geographic targeting, budget allocation and activation‑ready deal IDs, allowing campaigns to go live in as little as five...
Intrepid Travel Launches Campaign That Showcases Local Leaders & Travellers
Intrepid Travel has launched “The Difference is Who,” a new marketing campaign across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The campaign spotlights local leaders and like‑minded travellers, positioning human connection as the core differentiator. It will run on TV, out‑of‑home, radio and...
Live Sampling Drives Purchasing For Majority Of Consumers
A new industry‑first study by Blobfish International analyzed over 78,000 post‑trial surveys from 326 live‑sampling campaigns across FMCG categories. It found that 82 % of consumers are highly likely to purchase a product after trying it, with a 91 % average positive...
QMS Positions Itself As NZ’s Complete OOH Solution
QMS New Zealand has launched a national campaign branding itself as Aotearoa’s total out‑of‑home (OOH) audience solution. Backed by QMS Australia’s technology, the company now offers an integrated network of nearly 2,000 street‑furniture panels, 280 billboards, 4,000 transit displays and airport...
ACMA Mulls Booze Ads During Sport Crackdown
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has launched a review of commercial TV alcohol advertising rules, focusing on placements alongside sports broadcasts. The consultation, which runs until 30 April 2026, examines Code of Practice sections 6.2 and 8 that define permissible...
Nicolette Briscoe Launches Life By Design Coaching
Marketing veteran Nicolette Briscoe has launched Life by Design Coaching, a mindset and leadership practice targeting leaders, founders, and high‑achievers. The service blends unconscious recoding, strategic intentionality, and somatic mastery to replace hustle‑driven habits with sustainable performance. Briscoe also offers...
TV Ratings (19/3/2026): Swans & Hawks Fly Seven To The Top Of The Ratings
Seven Network’s AFL broadcast of the Sydney Swans versus Hawthorn Hawks captured the top spot in the March 19 overnight ratings, drawing more than two million viewers and a national average audience of 727,000. The Hawks secured a 17‑point victory, playing...
Australia Post Poised To Deliver Media Account To Accenture Song
Accenture Song Media is expected to secure Australia Post's media account after a competitive pitch that also featured Wavemaker and Atomic212. The prospective contract expands beyond standard media planning, incorporating a business‑transformation component that aligns with Accenture Song's consultancy strengths....
How Sporting Organisations Are Unlocking Fresh Audiences For Advertisers
Sporting organisations are reshaping fan experiences to create new advertising channels. The Sydney Swans introduced a Gen‑Z‑focused "Match Day Mingle" that combined social events with live AFL action, selling out both games and driving higher social media reach. Meanwhile, the...
Optimisation Everywhere & No Signs Of Progress: Learn What You Can Do
On 1 April 2026, Quantcast and B&T will host a Breakfast Club event in Sydney to confront the pervasive “optimisation fatigue” marketers face. The panel features Chloe Jones of Princess Cruises, Gemma Poesaste from Telstra’s Roam Agency, Dan Lee of Quantcast, and...
Youi Appoints Veridooh As Its Exclusive OOH Independent Verification Partner
Australian insurer Youi has appointed out‑of‑home verification platform Veridooh as its exclusive independent verification partner. Veridooh’s SmartCreative technology will provide real‑time tracking, measurement and verification of Youi’s OOH campaigns, aligning metrics with the insurer’s digital KPIs. The partnership enables mid‑campaign...
Gen Z Isn’t Harder To Manage – Leadership Just Hasn’t Caught Up
The Media Federation of Australia’s new whitepaper, *The Gen Z Effect*, shows that Gen Z now comprises roughly 48% of the Australian media workforce. Having started many careers during COVID‑driven remote onboarding, they expose weaknesses in leadership, communication and career development. Rather...
YouGov Launches AI Tool To Explain The ‘Why’ Behind Brand Metrics
YouGov has unveiled BrandIndex Voices, an AI‑powered qualitative research add‑on to its BrandIndex platform. The tool combines conversational AI with YouGov’s verified panel to surface the narratives behind shifts in brand metrics such as quality, value and reputation. By prompting...
TV Ratings (16/3/2026): Aussies Turn To Seven As The Oscars Rolls Out Hollywood’s Red Carpet
The Oscars aired on Australia’s Seven Network attracted a Total TV National Reach of 1.254 million and an average audience of 488,000, despite the late‑night time slot. A same‑day encore captured an additional 1.074 million reach with 231,000 average viewers, while the...
Westpac NZ Banks On New Omnicom Oceania ‘Goldilocks’ Bespoke Agency
Westpac New Zealand has launched a partnership with Goldilocks, a bespoke agency created within Omnicom Oceania to drive its brand transformation. The model embeds specialist talent across insights, data, media, technology and production directly within Westpac, bypassing traditional agency structures....
Why On Earth Is Menulog On The Back Of The Bunnies’ Jerseys?
Menulog’s logo will still appear on the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 2026 jerseys even though the delivery service stopped operating in Australia in November 2025. The jerseys were printed before the shutdown, and the partnership agreement was extended to avoid the expense...
RCJ Secures Aussie Investment Firm LongView’s Media Account
RCJ has been selected as the media agency for Australian investment firm LongView, taking charge of brand and performance marketing for its HomeFlex equity‑release platform. The agency’s full‑funnel pitch highlighted its ability to blend creative strategy with data‑driven execution. Early...
Aussie Startup Neosframe Promises To Improve Retail Ad Production
Australian startup Neosframe has launched an AI‑powered creative automation platform that streamlines retail advertising production from asset creation to compliance and multi‑channel versioning. The system promises to increase campaign output by up to ten times without adding headcount, targeting regulated...
Junkee Media Taps Sophie Hanson As Head Of Editorial
Junkee Media announced Sophie Hanson as its new Head of Editorial, overseeing both Junkee and Punkee brands. Hanson arrives with over ten years of senior editorial experience at global digital and lifestyle outlets such as People, Vogue.com, Harper’s Bazaar, Bustle,...
Digital Minds Group To Raise The Shades On Tuiss Blinds Online
Tuiss Blinds Online has hired Digital Minds Group to steer its media strategy as it accelerates expansion across Australia. The partnership focuses on a performance‑led, measurement‑first approach to scale the direct‑to‑consumer brand. Digital Minds will manage search, social and emerging...
NOVA Entertainment Partners With Retail Media Arm Of Westfield’s Scentre Group
Australian radio and podcast leader NOVA Entertainment has partnered with BrandSpace, the retail media division of Westfield owner Scentre Group, to create a unified advertising platform across 42 Westfield shopping centres and NOVA’s audio network. The collaboration offers agencies a...
Two Broke Chicks Join Nova Podcasts
Two Broke Chicks, a female‑led Australian podcast hosted by Sally McMullen and Alexandra Hourigan, is joining Nova Podcasts. The show, which offers practical advice on money, career, identity and relationships, reaches over 1.1 million followers across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Nova’s...
Lululemon Cops $703K ACMA Fine For Email Marketing Misdemeanour
Lululemon has been hit with a $702,900 penalty from Australia’s ACMA for breaching spam regulations. The regulator found the athleisure brand sent over 370,000 service‑related emails that also contained promotional material but omitted an unsubscribe option between Dec 1 2024 and Jan 5 2025....
Impact’s APAC Boss Adam Furness To Exit
Adam Furness, who built Impact.com’s APAC and Japan business from a four‑person team to over 140 staff and more than 1,000 customers, announced his departure at the end of March 2026. He will take a short career break after a...
Trio Of APAC IKEA Marketing Leaders To Speak At Cairns Crocodiles
Three senior IKEA marketers – Kirsten Hasler (Australia & New Zealand), Patrizia Rigassi (Japan) and Yuli Park (Korea) – will speak at the Cairns Crocodiles conference on May 14, presented by Pinterest. They will discuss how IKEA balances a unified global brand with...
Foxcatcher Unveils Agentic Workflows To ‘Drive Campaign Performance’
Foxcatcher has launched WorldView Atlas AI, an intelligence layer that embeds agentic workflows into its WorldView platform. The system semi‑automates campaign setup, execution, and reporting, freeing trading specialists to concentrate on strategic optimisation. By keeping humans in the decision loop,...
Zaid Al-Qassab Heads For The Door At M+C Saatchi
M&C Saatchi announced that global CEO Zaid Al‑Qassab will leave the company on 31 March, with non‑executive chair Dame Heather Rabbatts stepping in as interim CEO. The board also launched a £4.5 million share‑buyback program and appointed Vin Murria and Nicholas Shott...
Tourism Brands Need To Leverage Influencers To Stay Connected To Travellers
Taboola’s 2026 Travel Marketing Trends report outlines five pivotal shifts shaping tourism advertising. Travelers now prioritize experiential, personalized trips, prompting brands to move beyond generic packages toward curated, interest‑based itineraries. Mobile‑first experiences and seamless digital journeys are becoming the default...
Foxtel Kicks Off NRL Season With 39% New Sponsors On Board
Foxtel Media announced that 39% of advertisers for the 2026 NRL season are brand‑new, joining returning partners such as Westpac, McDonald’s and Toyota. New sponsors include Red Bull, Bunnings, Club 4×4 Insurance and Youi, while programmatic inventory expansion lets small regional...
Apple & The Sydney Opera House Collaborate To Celebrate Australian Creativity
Apple and the Sydney Opera House have launched a year‑long partnership to nurture Australian creativity. The collaboration will feature a commissioned projection, "Illuminating Creativity," displaying Procreate artworks by ten emerging Australian artists on the Opera House's eastern Bennelong sails. Free...
American Express Hits Full Throttle On Fan Experience At Melbourne GP
American Express returns for a second year as the official payments partner of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, unveiling an upgraded Amex Lounge and a suite of new fan experiences. The lounge now showcases premium food and beverage partners such...
‘Better Value Than LinkedIn Ads’: Tech Firm Octave Bets Big On F1 Partnership With VCARB
Global tech firm Octave has signed a three‑year sponsorship with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 team, launching the deal at the Australian Grand Prix. The partnership aligns Octave’s asset‑lifecycle intelligence platform with the high‑pressure environment of Formula 1, positioning...
Sling & Stone Taps We Communications’ Nichole Provatas To Lead Australian Business
Sling & Stone has named Nichole Provatas, formerly of We Communications, as the inaugural Managing Director of its Australian operation. Provatas will steer the agency’s expansion across AI‑driven visibility, strategic insight, social, creative and content services. Her portfolio includes high‑profile...