PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, Wednesday: A major new book on the esports (competitive gaming) industry has just launched. And the author, William Collis, has a Kiwi connection.

AUCKLAND, Tuesday: San Diego-based customer data oufit Tealium has appointed ex-Marketo sales veteran Aaron Senden as country manager, to lead the company’s operations in New Zealand.

BUSAN, Today: NZ’s MDS AdSchool students are celebrating the achievements of the 19 finalists through to the shortlist stage of Korea’s Ad Stars – and two finalists for the Student Orcas.

AUCKLAND, Tuesday: Indie agency giant Stanley St is extending its portfolio into the publishing business with plans to launch four local lifestyle magazines – online and in print from October. And they’ve contracted veteran magazine editor Sido Kitchen to head the launch (as group publisher).

AUCKLAND, Today: Ben Cochrane, MD of Auckland agency BMG, has provided further detail to yesterday’s M+AD/NZ Herald story alleging Premier Beehive had infringed the agency’s intellectual property (scroll down for the link to the original stories), provided originally via an unsolicited pitch.

AUCKLAND, Today: Michael Hill Jewellers, founded in NZ but now based in Brisbane, has appointed Melbourne creative/PR agency iD Collective to serve the New Zealand market. 

BUSAN, Today: NZ scored 49 finalists at Korea’s Ad Stars Awards overnight. Colenso BBDO collected 19 finals spots, followed by Clemenger BBDO Wellington (16), DDB (10), Special Group (three) and indie agency Run (one).

AUCKLAND, Today: One of the few independent agencies in the world to make the Ad Stars shortlist (see accompanying story) was Auckland creative & design shop Run.

AUCKLAND, Today: A sizzling stoush between a NZ marketing firm and pork company owned by a global food giant has flared up with an exchange of allegations, denials and legal letters over who created a bacon advertising campaign, according to a report in this morning’s Herald.