One of New Zealand’s most awarded design specialists, Grant Alexander is teaming up with Auckland agency Onfire Design. Founder and principal of Studio Alexander, Grant will join Onfire as design director, providing on-going expertise to his clients with access to the full service design and digital offering from Onfire.
Calling all natural-born communicators

The call is out for entries to the 2016 New Zealand Direct Marketing Awards. Organised by the Marketing Association, the NZDM Awards have been running since 1986 recognising insight-driven marketing projects that connect customers through a multitude of channels and generate outstanding results – all of which add up to excellence in direct marketing.
New Zealand Geographic Magazine of the Year
The Magazine Publishers Association had its annual gala awards in Auckland last night where New Zealand Geographic (Kowhai Media) took the award for the country’s best magazine for 2016. New Zealand Geographic also went home with an award for photographer, Richard Robinson.
Fresh faces on the CAANZ Board
Five new faces on the executive board of Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand with elections this week, a week that also sees Simon Lendrum stepping down as president.
Arrivals & Departures: Linsday out, Reeves in as Coast changes afternoon host
Long-time radio host Murray Lindsay is moving on from his drive show on Coast. A statement from NZME this morning says Lindsay will finish with Coast at the end of the year, being replaced in 2017 by Jason Reeves.
Samsung recall: A near perfect case of crisis management

Public relations experts are heaping praise on the way Samsung handled the global recall of its hugely anticipated Galaxy Note 7 smartphone. While the recall could be seen as embarrassing for the proud phone maker, PR experts are saying Samsung has handled the crisis almost perfectly.
Aussies look to US to sell the Holden brand
Holden’s Australian marketers have looked overseas for more than just inspiration in trying to sell the brand to a nation that’s losing its car manufacturing industry. It’s a tough sell. With GM deciding it’s not profitable to make Holden cars in Australia the problem was how to sell Holden to Holden-loving, true blue Aussies.
Slingshot tasks TRACK to get the whole family online
Slingshot has a quirky new TVC promoting its fibre offering for the first time, having previously focused on promoting DSL products. The 30-second TVC highlights the growing demand for high-speed data in kiwi households, with every family member — right down to the dog — plugged into the web.
Arrivals & Departures: Big data guru returns to NZ
Colmar Brunton and TNS New Zealand believe they can make big data work for clients like never before, following with an international award winning data expert returning to New Zealand. Following a global search, Kiwi Dr Will Koning is back from London to Kantar New Zealand, the parent company of both Colmar Brunton and TNS, as Chief Data Officer.
Get an early start on Christmas e-tailing

Australian digital marketing agency Shout Web Strategy wants business to start their Christmas planning now. Shout CEO, Michael Jenkins says it’s just prudent planning to get Christmas marketing sorted early.