IdeaWorks structures for growth across Australia and NZ with new promotions and appointments

Specialist retail marketing agency IdeaWorks has made a number of management appointments to capitalise on growth in both Australia and New Zealand. IdeaWorks recently won Dick Smith in Sydney, a significant project for Price Attack in Brisbane, and the Westfield account in NZ.

Phil McDonald will assume the role of IdeaWorks national managing director to support Jon Bird in his position as chairman of IdeaWorks Australia and New Zealand. This will be in addition to McDonald’s duties as group MD of Y&R in Brisbane. McDonald launched IdeaWorks into the Brisbane market a year ago, and the business has grown quickly in that time.

Monika Vidovic has been appointed to the role of general manager of IdeaWorks Sydney. Vidovic successfully led IdeaWorks brand experience division before broadening her skills to become a client lead at IdeaWorks.

Abbe Hale has just joined as general manager of the Y&R Group Auckland office, from BBH in New York. Hale’s responsibilities will include IdeaWorks NZ, working with NZ Y&R group MD, James Hurman.

IdeaWorks chairman Jon Bird said it was a “truly impressive” team. “It’s great to have people of this calibre to work alongside me in building the IdeaWorks brand and business.”

Y&R Group ANZ COO, Jason Buckley, says that IdeaWorks is a real focus for the Group.

Says Buckley: “IdeaWorks is the best brand in retail marketing in Australasia. We see these moves as a key part of our overall growth plans in Australia and New Zealand, perfectly complementing Y&R and our digital offering, VML.”

(Pictured: Jon Bird, Phil McDonald, Monica Vidovic, Abbe Hale and James Hurman)