Michelle Boag new executive director of Ogilvy

One of the nation’s most experienced public relations and communications specialists, Michelle Boag, has become executive director of Ogilvy NZ Ltd, one of the country’s largest advertising agencies.

Her appointment will considerably strengthen the company’s continued growth in the coming year, says Ogilvy managing director Greg Partington: “Despite the disappointing economy, Ogilvy performed way beyond our expectations in 2010, increasing revenues slightly on 2009 but delivering a double digit profit on the previous year.

“2011 for Ogilvy is about growth. Ourplan for 2011 is to leverage the diverse strength of Ogilvy to thebenefit of our existing clients as well as attracting new ones.

“We’ve appointed Michelle Boag for just this purpose; to spearhead ourbusiness development calling upon her experience to provide our clientswith strategic insight, helping them identify sales growthopportunities, and using marketing innovation to deliver them realresults. In addition, she’ll be providing support to our PR strategicpartner, Bullet PR, ensuring clients benefit from their digitalinfluence capabilities. And, of course, her well known ability to cutto the chase will be invaluable to me in harnessing the potential ofour diverse but capable business.”

Michelle Boag was a senior consultant with the Momentum Group ofCompanies, which bought her company PR People in 2008. Her thirty yearcareer includes working in Parliament for three National Party leaders,a term as President of the National Party, managing public relationsconsultancies in Auckland and Wellington, and senior managementpositions in large private sector companies.

Active over many years in several trusts and boards Michelle iscurrently serving as a director for the Eden Park Trust Board and theAuckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. She has previously been a director oforganisations such as the Advertising Standards Complaints Board, ManuSamoa Rugby, Television New Zealand and Auckland Surf Lifesaving.

A former president of the Variety Club, Michelle has been active in avoluntary capacity with such groups as the Breast Cancer Foundation,the Racing Industry Board, the Salvation Army and Auckland Rugby.

Michelle Boag takes up the role of Executive Director at Ogilvy from February.