Digital marketing outfit King Kong has enlisted Adrian Epstein to lead its digital account management division, effective January 2020. 

The move puts him in charge of a 14-strong group and will oversee activity for King Kong’s clients, plus handle retention and ROI. Epstein is coming over from Mindshare, which he left in October this year after two years leading its search team. He also worked with Columbus and Atomic212. 

“As this was a strategic hire for us, we took the time to find the right person to ensure they had the skills set, were a good cultural fit, but would also be focused on delivering our 100% client commitment of success. We are a business on a steep upward trajectory and I believe this is largely due to our focus on generating real results for our clients. With Adrian’s experience in one of Australia’s leading agencies, he had the right mix of focus on people as well as clients. I can’t wait to see what Adrian can deliver for

WPP AUNZ agency OPR is entering 2020 with an expanded management team.  

The agency announced this week that Dan Young of the innovation team has been promoted to chief digital officer. His role would see him continue managing digital and social duties. 

Freelance consultant Melissa Cullen comes in as the new managing partner and a client lead for Microsoft. She was the former co-founder managing director of Res Publica, which she ran for 15 years.

Ben Cooper is aboard as associate director for creative and digital. He had recently come home after almost three years with Netflix in the US.

Eleven PR has scored the agency representation for Italian coffee brand Lavazza, effective immediately. 

The deal includes developing a new communications strategy, media relations, and influencer engagement. 

The first major assignment under the partnership will be to oversee PR and social activity for Lavazza’s sponsorship of the Australian Open. The coffee chain’s relationship with the National Gallery of Victoria will also continue.

“Lavazza is synonymous with Australian coffee culture – we’re looking forward to working with the team at Lavazza and leveraging the brand’s iconicity to create memorable PR moments, kicking off with the 2020 Australian Open,” said Eleven Melbourne managing director Kiefer Casamore.

Lavazza’s recent PR partner of four years, Kate and Co, recently agreed to mutually part ways due to increasing commitment to Coles Supermarkets and the Australian Turf Club. Both sides have worked over the years

Jackie Crossman has tendered her resignation as executive director of RED Havas’ Sydney office.

She said that she will turn over her posting at the end of 2019 to go travelling. However, she has agreed to consult for the RED Havas Group in a new talent initiative. 

Crossman has been with RED Havas since it acquired her own consultancy, Crossman Communications, in 2015.

A new board of directors will be in charge of the Sydney office. This will comprise RED Havas Australia CEO Sarah Trombetta, consumer head Adam Freedman, lifestyle and leisure head Reema Babakhan, healthcare chief Sue Cook, and business director Grant Richmond-Coggan. 

“Jackie is a unique and phenomenal operator whose impact at Red Havas and the wider Australian industry can’t be under-estimated.  From helping to grow the successful business and talent we have today in our Australian agency, to the leadership roles she has played within industry associations, her impact will be long-l

VMLY&R is joining forces with Brisbane Marketing on a new promotional campaign for the greater Brisbane region, called “Nothing’s Changed, Everything’s Different.”

The project kicks off with a 30-second and 60-second film that displays the sights and sounds of Brisbane evolving over the years but still retains the classic flavour it always had. 

Singer/songwriter Megan Washington will use a licenced cover of the Powderfinger song My Happiness as background music. 

VMLY&R and Brisbane Marketing are supporting the video with multi-format content. 

“We bloody love Brisbane – we know locals do as well – so it was important to partner with the Brisbane creative community, established and emerging, to help bring the brand idea to life.  We hope this campaign will drive Brisbane residents to share their love and passion for their great city,” said VMLY&R Brisbane managing director Adam Kennedy.

Wunderman Thompson has designated current CRM/marketing automation chief Suzanne Sarkis as a co-Partner for the Melbourne office. 

Sarkis is slated to assume the post next month after finishing maternity leave, but will retain her existing responsibilities. She will round out the Melbourne leadership team comprising co-Partner Nick Muncaster and Managing Partner Michael Godwin. 

“Client demands have shifted in the past year. We’ve seen significant increases in the demand for our CRM and marketing automation capability as CMOs and business leaders see the impact that data and personalisation has on their bottom line. As Partner, my experience in data marketing will help drive the Wunderman Thompson ethos and deliver real value to our clients and people,” said Sarkis of her opportunity.

Get to know Sarkis on LinkedIn.

PR professional Rebbecca Davis has teamed with Andrea DeMarco and Cara Ceccato to form a new medical marketing agency called MedEvent, reported Mumbrella.

MedEvent is being geared towards clients in the medical and health sciences industries, from private practitioners to drug companies and medical device manufacturers. Their services include brand development, event management, and social media marketing for the client.

Davis had been busy in the formation of the new agency after exiting KK&O a few months ago.

“Since launch the business has continued to evolve into an adapted integrated agency model as we respond to market needs. This has been an extremely interesting journey so far as I have had the opportunity to refine my knowledge within this area and apply my existing strategic marketing experience. My co-founders Andrea DeMarco and Cara Ceccato both have extensive medical industry experience across a range of areas and we all bring unique experiences and skill sets