AUCKLAND, Yesterday: Thompson Spencer has been named the first-ever winner of B&T’s Aotearoa New Zealand Agency of the Year, a major milestone as the awards recognised Aotearoa as its own category for the first time.
2025 was a huge year for the agency. Thompson Spencer merged with performance powerhouse Reason, opened new offices in Melbourne and Sydney and expanded its capability across strategy, creative, technology, performance, social and production.
Within six months of the merger, 35 clients began working across both teams, showing the strength of the combined model. That approach has pushed their work into more than 75 countries, cementing a borderless way of operating.
“This is a massively proud trans-Tasman moment,” says Melanie Spencer, Group CEO and co-founder of Thompson Spencer. “It’s been a huge year of building – across our people, our capability and our ambition.
“This is a massively proud trans-Tasman moment. It’s been a huge year of building – across our people, our capability and our ambition.” – Melanie Spencer, Group CEO and co-founder of Thompson Spencer
“We’re designing an agency for the future, not one built for yesterday. We’re creating the kind of agency the world needs right now: fast, brave, human and built to make things move whilst others stand still.
“We’re hugely grateful to our clients for putting their trust in us and to our partners for their collaboration. As far as our team goes, my pride and gratitude levels are, genuinely, right off the charts.”
This year’s work reflected that pace, from TikTok content to national TV campaigns. Big projects for Honda New Zealand and Auckland Transport showed the strength of their ideas and the impact of their integrated model.
Growth in Australia has continued, driven by a culture built on fast development, diversity and collaboration. The agency now works with CA ANZ, Wattyl Australia, Ecostore, Musashi, DoorDash and Gold Coast Airport, along with a wider roster that includes Entrada, Fisher Funds, London City Airport and KFC.
About Thompson Spencer Group
Thompson Spencer is an independent, full-funnel advertising group with offices in New Zealand and Australia. Built by founders Wendy Thompson, Melanie Spencer, Tim Pointer and Matt Rowe, the Group brings together strategy, creative, media and performance to help brands grow with impact.
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