AUCKLAND, Today: Burger King agency VMLY&R has remained stoically silent in the face of the global media slaverings directed at their ‘racist’ 8sec social media ad for BK’s Vietnamese sweet chilli tendercrisp burger.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: Stuff (with 84 finalists) led the way in today’s release of the shortlists for the 2019 Voyager Media Awards. Rounding out the top three are NZ Herald/NZME (56) and Bauer Media (24).

SYDNEY, Wednesday: Not everybody across the ditch is thrilled by the announcement that WPP AUNZ has unveiled a target of 50:50 gender distribution across senior leadership positions to be reached by 2021.

AUCKLAND, Today: “Our business would be nothing without the hard work and street smarts of our billsticker crews,” writes Phantom Billstickers’ Jamey Holloway in the latest edition of the company newsletter. “So we thought it was time to shine the spotlight on a few Phantoms.”

MT MAUNGANUI, Tuesday: Tauranga full-service brand creative agency Wave has promoted Craig Parker to the role of creative director. Parker swapped his city sneakers for gumboots for his first Wave client photoshoot when he started as art director at the agency just 11 months ago, with a view to stepping into bigger shoes in due course.

AUCKLAND, Tuesday: Ponsonby/Kingsland comms shop Darkhorse NZ has signed two new clients to its growing PR and digital portfolios – global leather accessories brand Deadly Ponies and Australian reusable coffee cups company, SoL Cups.

AUCKLAND, Tuesday: Film Construction has added acclaimed Kiwi filmmaker Ivan Barge to its Transtasman directors roster.

AUCKLAND, Today: FCB has confirmed the appointment of Sue Gill as general manager – strategy, partnering with David Thomason to lead the strategy team. She will also be responsible for key clients such as Samsung.