PHD names Nikki Grafton as managing director of Spark PHD and PHDiQ: Omnicom Media Group NZ agency PHD Group has announced a key appointment, marking changes to its senior leadership structure.
Nikki Grafton, former managing director of offline media agency Spark PHD, has been named managing director of both Spark PHD and its online media sister agency PHDiQ.
As recently reported, Jane Stanley, who had been heading up PHDiQ and was PHD Group’s strategy director since 2012, has been appointed to managing director of Resolution Media and Accuen – two of OMG New Zealand’s specialist digital units (www.mad-daily.com/arrivals-departures-86).
CEO Louise Bond says both appointments further solidify the agency’s Connected Specialists positioning and business structure. “This unique model sees account teams connecting with dedicated best-in-class experts across Spark PHD, PHDiQ and Spark PR & Activate – from strategy, trading, biddable media, programmatic and data through to online content, social media, PR and activation – providing clients with plans that ultimately deliver optimum results,” said Bond.
“The majority of Nikki’s 15 years with PHD has seen her in senior management positions, the last four of these as managing director of Spark PHD. Consequently Nikki has played a major role in the shaping of our businesses over the years, including the original build of our digital division back in 2007, and she is brilliantly placed to lead the broader media business teams.
“If OMG’s other markets can be used as an indicator of success, centralised leadership will result in our clients benefitting from more streamlined servicing across both online and offline.”
PHD Group will shortly be announcing a newly-appointed group strategy director, which Bond says will be equally exciting news for the agency and its clients alike.
Jane Stanley and Nikki Grafton will continue to service PHD Group clients in their respective new roles, which are effective immediately. There are no changes to the leadership structure of Spark PR & Activate.
About PHD
PHD Group in New Zealand comprises three business units, Spark PHD, PHDiQ and Spark PR and Activate. Other recent ‘Connected Specialists’ appointments include:
- Mike Harland was appointed head of online content across PHD Group
- Scott Keddie was promoted from his role as PHD head of trading to OMG New Zealand chief investment officer
- Earlier this year, Robin Wilson began as general manager of Spark PR & Activate, with Kristy Mayo announced as its client services director
PHD Worldwide has over 3000 staff working in over 80 offices.
Spark started life in 1999, growing to become a leading New Zealand independent media agency. The agency rebranded in 2007 to Spark PHD, having joined the global PHD network. It claims to be the first media agency in New Zealand to open a PR and activation arm, Spark PR & Activate, and in 2007 Spark PHD created a digital division in the form of PHDiQ, which specialises in both traditional and non-traditional digital solutions. Together, the three business arms form PHD Group.
The PHD network is part of the Omnicom Media Group (www.omnicommediagroup.com), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).
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