VMLY&R is entering 2020 as the agency of record for Monash University. 

The extended partnership includes new assignments for the agency’s Melbourne office such as increasing activity for the university’s Change It brand platform, content for the Different Lens docuseries, and interactive features for the Alumni homecoming. 

VMLY&R has been working with the university for four years.

“We’re stoked,” said Jake Barrow, VMLY&R Melbourne’s Executive Creative Director. “We absolutely love working with the Monash team and are very proud of the work we’ve made together over the past four years. We really value the way our partnership dares us to challenge the status quo and we can’t wait to up the ante even more,” said VMLY&R Melbourne ECD Jake Barrow.

Zadro Agency owner Felicity Zadro has been recognised with an ”Unsung Hero” award at the 2019 Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) Awards for Excellence.

The EEAA honours Unsung Heroes as people who have made strong contributions to Australia’s events industry and the EEAA organisation as a whole. 

“I deeply appreciate the nomination by my team at Zadro and the dedication they’ve shown in our contribution to the industry. I’ve loved all my years working in the events and exhibition industry; it is challenging, rewarding and rings with entrepreneurial spirit,” said Zadro in accepting the award. 

“There is much we can all celebrate about our sector, however, there is more to be done. I look forward to many more years working alongside great people to achieve great things for the benefit of us all.”

Marcomms agency Keep Left has won the account rights for the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, reported B and T.

The new deal involves Keep Left collaborating with the Melbourne Star sales and marketing team to further promote the popular attraction, which had recently generated at least 25 per cent higher numbers among overseas tourists in 2019. 

It is also Keep Left’s first travel/tourism client. 

The venue is also being angled as an experiential place in 2020, with management predicting the Star’s two-millionth passenger to ride sometime next year. 

“The addition of Melbourne Star Observation Wheel to Keep Left’s diverse portfolio leverages industry expertise across our Strategy, Creative, PR and Digital + Experience departments – as well as the teams’ passion for the industry. We’re excited to support Melbourne Star in its next phase of growth, re-positioning it to become an intrinsic part of the tourism and events scene

The Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) is ready for 2020 with new leaders at the helm.

The organisation announced that McCo Group managing director Leigh McClusky (pictured, left) of the PRIA SA chapter is succeeding Sylvia Bell for the national presidency. McClusky was elected to the post on account of her presidency of PRIA SA and represented the state in the PRIA Regional Consultancies Group. Bell stays as immediate past president.  

Dr Donald Alexander is making way for Phillips Group group executive director Helen Hutchings (pictured, right) as deputy president; he stays on as immediate past VP.

Bell and Alexander have been leading PRIA since the middle of last year.

“I’m keen to work with a team with a vision for a truly national organisation that expects and celebrates world’s best practice,” said McClusky.

“The challenge for the PRIA is to redefine and invigorate its purpose and relevance in 2020 in line with the expectat

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