PHD NZ promotes Amanda Palenski to MD; James Davidson to Chief Strategy & Planning Officer and Helen Brown to Chief Investment Officer

Omnicom Media Group (OMG) agency PHD Aotearoa has promoted Creative Integration Lead Amanda Palenski to Managing Director, effectively immediately. In her role, Palenski will lead operations for PHD Aotearoa’s team, strategically leveraging multi-channel and platform opportunities to deliver transformative experiences for clients.

Palenski will report into Abby Parkin, CEO of PHD Aotearoa. Together with Parkin, Palenski will cultivate holistic thinking to deliver innovative and future-proofed solutions that drive results for clients and business growth.

Under Palenski’s client leadership over the last 16 years at PHD Aotearoa, clients including Skinny and Restaurant Brands have been recognised on the global and local awards stage including Cannes, WARC, Beacons and Effies, contributing to the agency’s leadership positioning. She also played an invaluable role in developing the media strategy for the Lion NZ pitch, which PHD Aotearoa subsequently won.

“Palenski’s appointment to this key leadership role recognises the considerable capability and depth of expertise she has delivered for clients and our business. She is an inspiring people leader who brings a unique set of skills to the table – strong creativity, results-focused, and industry nous,” Parkin said.

On her new role, Palenski said, “I’m delighted to be supporting the agency and our talented team to deliver sustained success for the agency and our clients. Being able to build on my love of driving results focused teams and a motivated, innovative and creative culture holds a huge amount of appeal as I take this next step in my media career of more than two decades. I can’t wait to get started.”

Additionally, PHD Aotearoa has also strengthened its leadership bench by promoting James Davidson to Chief Strategy & Planning Officer and Helen Brown to Chief Investment Officer.

With over 15 years at PHD Aotearoa, Davidson has most recently led the agency’s client planning function as GM under a four-person dedicated strategy team. In his role, Davidson will work collaboratively with clients as well as PHD Aotearoa’s client service teams and cross-channel planners to deliver strategic and transformative media solutions. His strength lies in his ability to transform strategic insights into flawless execution, helping clients outpace and outgrow the competition, thereby raising the standards across the agency and the industry.

Brown is a founding member of PHD Aotearoa, which originally traded as Spark Media in 1999. One of the industry’s most experienced media experts, Helen has pioneered the agency’s investment and trading function for the last five years, delivering transformative growth and unparalleled market-leading investment solutions with tangible value back to clients.

The trio of promotions come on the back of Nikki Grafton’s elevation to the newly created role of CEO of OMG New Zealand and Parkin’s promotion from MD to CEO of PHD Aotearoa. Combined with the strength of PHD Aotearoa’s wider leadership bench, including Chief Technology & Innovation officer Rachel Bayfield, Group Operations Director Penny Harvie, Chief Measurement Officer Simon Bird and GM Digital Ivan Atkins, the appointments reflect the breadth of talent and set a solid foundation for PHD Aotearoa’s continued success.

Pictured (L-R) Helen Brown, Amanda Palenski, James Davidson

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