AUCKLAND, Today: A leadership shift is underway at Sling & Stone, with Sian Church stepping down as Head of New Zealand after seven years steering the local operation.
Dearra Naidoo has been promoted to Director NZ and will take the reins as the agency moves into its next phase.
With more than a decade’s experience across fintech, SaaS and consumer lifestyle, Dearra has spent the past four years at Sling & Stone leading work for brands including Lush Cosmetics, Pathfinder and Akahu.
She’ll now work closely with the global leadership team to keep building the agency’s scale and capabilities in New Zealand.
“My time here has been one of the most rewarding and inspiring periods of my career and it has been a very difficult decision for me. This has been more than just a role, it’s been a defining part of my career.
“I came in with a mission to build a top tier comms agency with a strong culture and a reputation for doing impactful work, and I truly believe I achieved that.” – Sian Church
“I came in with a mission to build a top tier comms agency with a strong culture and a reputation for doing impactful work, and I truly believe I achieved that,” Sian Church said.
Sian was originally brought in to grow the New Zealand business and helped shape it into a go-to partner for high-growth brands, from startups to global players entering the local market.
“I’m thrilled to lead Sling & Stone into its next chapter and work with the team to shape the agency’s future and grow our presence in the market,”Dearra Naidoo said.
“We already have an incredible team, a culture of creativity and a client portfolio that is truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to build on our strong foundations to drive Sling & Stone even further.”
“I’m thrilled to lead Sling & Stone into its next chapter and work with the team to shape the agency’s future and grow our presence in the market.” – Dearra Naidoo
CEO James Hutchinson CEO of Sling & Stone said, “New Zealand has always punched well above its weight for Sling & Stone and the industry, consistently outperforming and setting the benchmark for creative and strategic impact.”
“Sian has done an incredible job of leading our work in NZ and helping build Sling & Stone across the world. She remains one of the smartest and most creative communicators I’ve ever met and will do amazing in any role she has.”
“NZ plays a critical role in our global story and I’m incredibly excited to see Dearra step into this role. She brings deep knowledge, sharp strategic thinking and the ambition to take the business into its next phase.
“I have no doubt she’ll build on an already exceptional foundation and continue to raise the bar for what Sling & Stone can achieve in Aotearoa,” said Hutchinson.
Dearra steps into the role immediately, with Sian set to depart on 19 March.
Share this Post
