Media Federation of Australia Appoints New Chair and Deputy Chair
The Media Federation of Australia (MFA) has named WPP Media ANZ CEO Aimee Buchanan as its new chair, with Spark Foundry ANZ CEO Imogen Hewitt stepping in as deputy chair. Both leaders replace long‑time chairs Mark Coad and Virginia Hyland after six years on the MFA board. The board also welcomed Dentsu’s Chris Ernst to fill the vacancy left by Fiona Johnston. Together they will steer the federation’s strategic direction and champion a stronger, more inclusive Australian media industry.
Seven Sells Its Community Sports Streaming Platform
Seven West Media has sold its community and junior sports streaming platform Streamer to Sideline Sport. The 2023‑founded Sideline Sport, which already streams grassroots competitions such as NSW Rugby Union and Netball NSW, will integrate Streamer’s catalogue and add up...
Ex-Cheil Australia Staff Launch Fair Work Claims Against Samsung In-House Agency
Samsung’s Australian in‑house agency Cheil is facing Federal Court action after two former senior leaders, former group director Trent Ellis and head of digital Peter Bojanac, filed Fair Work Act claims alleging breach of general protections following their dismissals. Both...
Giddy Up: The Most Syndicated Radio Show in Australia Is Expanding
Craig Hutchison’s Sports Entertainment Network has expanded its flagship Giddy Up program, now broadcasting live for four hours, five days a week on Racing.com via 7plus. The show, hosted by Gareth Hall, is Australia’s most syndicated radio show, airing across...
‘Mediabrands’ and ‘Magna’ on the Chopping Block as Omnicom Merger Bites
Omnicom is dismantling the Mediabrands and Magna brands in Australia as part of the post‑merger integration of its $13 billion IPG acquisition. The company will retire the Mediabrands name, migrate staff email addresses to OMC domains, and has already seen senior...
TV Wiped Out in Latest Vic Gov Ad Spend Figures
Victoria’s government advertising has dramatically shifted away from television, with TV accounting for just 9.4% of the $103.2 million media budget in 2023‑24 – roughly $9.7 million. The TV share fell from a peak of $32.4 million in 2020‑21 to half that amount...
‘Strategy without Pain Is Just Cosplay’: What BrewDog’s Decline Teaches Us About Marketing
BrewDog was sold to Tilray Brands, prompting the abrupt termination of 500 staff and closure of 38 pubs. The deal erased the value of the “Equity for Punks” scheme, leaving roughly £75 million invested by fans worthless. The article argues that...
Howatson Releases In-House AI Creative Platform as ‘a Moat Around Our Core Work’
Australian agency Howatson has launched Unicorn, an in‑house AI platform that automates the rollout of master creative into hundreds of digital and out‑of‑home formats. The service costs $5,000 per campaign—roughly a 95% reduction from traditional $100,000 rollouts—and delivers assets within...
Nine Cops the Worst of It on Historically Bad Day for Unmade Index
Nine Entertainment saw its shares plunge 6.97%, wiping out over $95 million in market value as the ASX200 opened down nearly 4% on an oil‑price shock. The broader Unmade Index fell to a record low of 378.3 points, reflecting heightened cost...
The Aunty Donna Podcast Returns to Acast in New Partnership
Acast has inked a multi‑year agreement to host The Aunty Donna Podcast and the newly created Grouse House Podcast Network on its platform. The deal consolidates Australia’s leading independent comedy collective under one roof just as Aunty Donna prepares to...
Out-of-Home Measurement System Move Is Finally Live
The Outdoor Media Association (OMA) has launched the upgraded Move measurement platform, replacing Move 1.5 as the official out‑of‑home (OOH) standard from March 16. Move aggregates data from over 180,000 sites, modeling a synthetic audience of 2.2 million Australians based on 5,000...
AI Voice Start-Up Elevenlabs Shifts to Australia
AI voice startup Elevenlabs has appointed former Conversant Media executive Michael Costa as its go‑to‑market director for Australia and New Zealand. Costa, who has held senior roles at Salesforce, Twilio and Mixpanel, will lead the company’s expansion despite still being based...
Amazon Gives Aussies Permission to ‘Spend Less on the Ones They Love’ in New Droga5 Campaign
Amazon has rolled out a new Australian advertising push featuring comedian Steph Tisdell, created by Droga5 ANZ. The campaign spotlights Amazon’s low‑price promise, encouraging shoppers to spend less on gifts for family, friends and pets while still showing love. It...
Chatime Names GYG’s Alison Walsh as CMO Amid Marketing Restructure
Bubble tea chain Chatime has appointed former Guzman y Gomez marketer Alison Walsh as its new Chief Marketing Officer for Australia. The hire follows the departure of global CMO Jeff Chang and national marketing manager Rachel Druce, marking a shift...
Australian Retail Council Launches New Identity
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) has been launched as a new national peak body, merging the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association. Developed with branding agency FABRIC, ARC’s new visual identity aims to give retailers a single, unified...
RSPCA Approved Evolves Into RSPCA Certified, Powered by Nature and The Thrills
RSPCA Australia has rebranded its farm‑animal welfare program from the 17‑year‑old RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme to the new RSPCA Certified label. The refresh, driven by strategic firm Nature and creative agency The Thrills, introduces a streamlined brand architecture, a distinctive...
VB Goes Mid with New William McInnes-Voiced Campaign
Victoria Bitter (VB) has introduced VB Mid, a 3.5% ABV beer, accompanied by a new television campaign voiced by Australian actor William McInnes. The launch follows VB’s 2023 VX effort and targets the fast‑growing low‑ and mid‑strength segment, which now accounts...
Shiine Media Drives Rooftop Rideshare OOH Growth Across WA
Shiine Media, a Perth‑based rooftop rideshare OOH operator, is experiencing rising demand for its mobile digital inventory as advertisers target events and nightlife districts. The company runs 20 rideshare vehicles equipped with 40 programmable LED panels that can be geofenced...
Qantas Splits Strategy From Execution in Loyalty Marketing Shake-Up
Qantas Loyalty, serving 18 million members, generated $2.86 billion revenue and $556 million EBIT in FY25. The airline is restructuring its loyalty marketing by separating high‑level strategy and partnership management from day‑to‑day campaign execution. A new Sydney‑based Marketing Centre of Excellence, backed by...
Emotive Boss Simon Joyce Bought Agency From ARN Media for One Dollar, Accounts Reveal
Emotive’s founders Simon Joyce and Ben Keep acquired the agency from ARN Media for a nominal $1, with a contingent $1.5 million earn‑out tied to future performance. The firm reported $10.8 million in revenue and a modest $72 k pre‑tax profit in 2024,...
Bastion Hires Joanne Norton to Lead Insights Arm
Bastion announced the appointment of Joanne Norton as managing director of its Insights division, succeeding Steven Howlett. Norton brings over 25 years of experience, most recently as Global Director of Consumer Insights at Bondi Sands and former L’Oréal ANZ insights...
We Are Different Appoints Ex-Fleishman Hillard MD Jenna Orme to Ops Leadership
We Are Different, an earned‑first creative agency, appointed former Fleishman Hillard Australia managing director Jenna Orme to a newly created Head of Difference role. Orme left Fleishman in January 2025 after three years and spent the last twelve months running...
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Seeks New CCO After Psembi Kinstan Departs
Melbourne’s Clemenger BBDO is searching for a new chief creative officer after Psembi Kinstan accepted a role at 72andSunny in the Netherlands. Kinstan, who rose to CCO following DDB’s merger into Clemenger BBDO, was lauded by co‑CEO Mike Napolitano as...
Big 4 Sends Aussies on Year-Long Roadtrip in ‘Boldest Campaign’ yet, via Pangea
Big 4 Holiday Parks has launched its most ambitious campaign in 46 years, offering a selected couple or family a year‑long roadtrip across its network of over 300 parks. The winners will receive a Ford Ranger and a Crusader caravan,...
Revolution360 to Exclusively Represent Wrappr’s OOH Inventory
Revolution360 announced it will exclusively represent Wrappr’s out‑of‑home inventory, merging the vehicle‑wrapped advertising platform with its own static street‑level sites. The combined network claims over 98% monthly metro reach across Australia, delivering both street‑level signage and city‑wide mobile coverage. Advertisers...
Digitas Australia Names Miriam Healy as Chief Technology Officer
Digitas Australia announced Miriam Healy as its new chief technology officer. Healy, who joins from a previous engineering director role, brings more than 25 years of experience delivering large‑scale digital products for household brands. In her CTO role she will...
Narrative Communications Opens Sydney Office to Support National Clients, Sophie Mullen Appointed to Lead
Narrative Communications announced the launch of a new Sydney office, marking its first expansion beyond Melbourne. The office will be led by Sophie Mullen, a communications veteran with over eight years of experience in corporate, reputation and crisis management. The...
Intrepid Travel Rolls Out ‘Golden Gap Year’ Campaign for 55+ Travellers
Intrepid Travel has launched the Golden Gap Year campaign aimed at Australians aged 55 and over, offering a competition for a 12‑month, tailor‑made travel experience valued up to $100,000 plus $25,000 for flights. The initiative is built on research showing...
WPP Media Appoints Kevin Kivi as Managing Director for South Australia
WPP Media has named Kevin Kivi as managing director of its South Australian operations, bringing 25 years of global advertising and media experience. Kivi previously led Horizon Media Canada, driving a 92% revenue increase and earning Best Place to Work...
Westpac NZ Deploys Immersive ‘Laneway Loot’ Campaign at Laneway Festival 2026
Westpac NZ, together with Saatchi & Saatchi NZ and Spark Foundry NZ, launched the immersive “Laneway Loot” experience at Laneway Festival 2026. The activation featured limited‑edition street posters that were ripped down and claimed within 24 hours, and a Westpac‑branded...
Snapchat Releases Next Phase of ‘Say It in a Snap’ Campaign in Australia
Snapchat has launched the next phase of its “Say it in a Snap” campaign across Australia, targeting university‑aged Gen Z with a mix of out‑of‑home billboards, digital video and brand‑integrated Snaps. The rollout highlights how students use the platform to...
