Australia-based STW Communications Group Ltd is to officially merge with the Australian and New Zealand businesses of London-based WPP plc (“WPP”) following STW shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting held in Sydney yesterday. The official merger effectively completes a process that began in 2010.

Brother Design Auckland has picked up four Golds and a Silver for Foodstuff’s private brand Pams at the Vertex Awards in North Carolina, beating retail giants from across the globe.

New Zealand’s largest listed shopping centre owner, Kiwi Property, is to make its first foray into television sponsorship, partnering with TVNZ to deliver the fashion and beauty segment in season two of lifestyle programme Kiwi Living.

The Marketing Association has elected two new board members for the 2016-2018 term – Bindi Norwell (executive director of TNS Global) and Tony Mitchell (business consultant at Datamine). Re-elected for the same period was Stuart Yorston (general manager, Sealord).

A new marketing agency has opened for business in Auckland – called Casual Fridays, run by journalist Debbie Harrison and designer/marketer Cameron Harrison.

The One Show has released its finalists in Social Media, Mobile, UX/UI and Interactive – featuring seven campaigns from NZ.

Sydney-based Curious Film executive producer Peter Grasse – a very well-known character on this side of the Tasman – is set to make a much-anticipated talk at Cannes this year, according to a report in Australia’s Campaign Brief.