New Additions to the CAANZ Executive Board

Media Release 02 April, 2007

New Additions to the CAANZ Executive Board

The Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand (CAANZ) is pleased to announce three new additions to the Executive Board - Brent Smart (Colenso BBDO), Jeremy Johnston (Sugar) and Kath Watson (OMD).

At its most recent meeting, the Board of CAANZ agreed to expand and broaden representation on the Board in order to reflect the diversified membership of the organisation.

"As an organisation, CAANZ works in the best interests of a wide range of agencies that service clients' marketing communication needs. The expansion of the Executive Board allows us to provide enhanced business services and deliver timely information in order to give our members a competitive edge.

This is in line with our desire to make the CAANZ organisation truly representative of the new communications landscape representing all disciplines and skills," says David Walden, President of CAANZ.

“The new board members add youth and energy as well as broadening and strengthening the Executive Board of CAANZ. I am confident this will allow us to continue to address issues and key areas of focus facing our industry in 2007."

The decision to introduce a second Independent Member representative to the CAANZ Executive Board is a reflection of the industry’s acknowledgement of the important role that New Zealand-owned agencies play in the industry.

Jeremy Johnston, Managing Director of Sugar, has an extensive and impressive advertising career behind him. Working on high profile clients such as Viagra, TV3 & 4, TSB Bank, the South Australian Tourism Commission and most recently Honda," Jeremy has led the agency to many successes, including being recently named the current Fairfax/Admedia Indie agency of the year.

Brent Smart, General Manager of Colenso BBDO, runs the agency in close partnership with Richard Maddocks. Previously a member of the management team at M&C Saatchi in Australia, Brent’s been involved with some of Colenso’s best work.

His inclusion on the Board of CAANZ follows a long tradition of Colenso leadership on the Board of CAANZ with Roger MacDonnell and Neil Livingstone of Colenso, both having served as Presidents of the Association.

Media agencies will also now have direct representation on the new-look CAANZ Board with the addition of the Chairperson of the CAANZ Media Committee sitting on the Board as a matter of course. Currently the Chairperson is Kath Watson of OMD. It is anticipated that an additional media representative will be invited to take a place on the full CAANZ Board later in the year.

“By broadening and strengthening the Executive Board, we will be able to address issues and key areas of focus facing the organisation and the industry in 2007,” says David Walden, President of CAANZ.

ENDS

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