Lowe New Zealand restructures

Media release: March 28, 2007

Lowe New Zealand restructures

Advertising agency Lowe New Zealand is restructuring its business after losing the Vodafone New Zealand account.

Lowe CEO Australia and New Zealand Stephen Pearson said that Vodafone, while acknowledging the valuable role Lowe had played in building the Vodafone brand over nine years, had decided to pitch its brand and retail business to Colenso/Colenso99 and a collaboration between JWT and Ogilvy. JWT holds the business internationally.

Mr Pearson said that Vodafone’s decision affected only the agency’s brand work and Draft would continue to provide direct marketing services to Vodafone.

As a result of this decision, the New Zealand agency would be restructured with a number of staff being made redundant, said Mr Pearson.

However, Lowe and Draft would remain significant players in New Zealand with combined staff numbers of 50+

Mr Pearson also said that New Zealand General Manager Cameron Harland had decided to leave the agency.

“Cameron has done a great job building up Lowe in New Zealand over the past two years, and we wish him well,” said Mr Pearson. “Notwithstanding these recent losses, he developed Lowe considerably in the time that he led the team.”

Rob Hoar, currently Operations Manager, will become General Manager of Lowe in New Zealand.

Draft’s New Zealand management is unchanged with Matt Scott continuing in his role as General Manager New Zealand.

Mr Pearson said that while it was always disappointing to end relationships with long-standing clients, change of this type also represented opportunity.

“Lowe New Zealand has come a long way in the past two years and the quality of its creative output ensures it has a bright future,” he said.

Mr Pearson said that the upcoming rebranding of Draft as a new international partner agency for Lowe around the world - as well as good progress integrating specialist teams and skills on a trans-Tasman basis - would see Lowe continue to innovate and lead in its ability to achieve outcomes for clients.

ENDS

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