PHDIQ Building Unparalleled Digital Offering

Media Release
13 November 2014

PHDIQ Building Unparalleled Digital Offering
Head of Online Content strengthens ‘Connected Specialists’ team

Multi-award-winning PHDIQ – the digital division of leading communications and media agency PHD Group – has created a new role to meet clients’ changing needs amid the ongoing digital revolution.

Mike Harland, previously a Digital Director at PHDIQ, has stepped up to Head of Online Content as the agency reinforces its pioneering position in the industry.

Jane Stanley, Managing Director of PHDIQ and Group Strategy Director, says the new role acknowledges the fundamental importance of digital expertise in almost every client campaign, and recognises Mike’s incredible contribution since joining the team in 2011.

“In positioning ourselves as the ‘agency of the future’, it is vital we provide second-to-none online solutions. More and more, the world is becoming digitised, socialised and connected. We’ve always had a strong paid digital media arm to the business – one of the largest in NZ – but increasingly our clients were asking us to deliver the content strategy that sits behind that media placement. We’ve successfully been doing this for a few years within our current structure, but we’ve now decided to formalise this and build it into the future.

“We’re thrilled to appoint Mike to this crucial role. Mike has proven himself as a highly strategic online content strategist, who delivers outstanding results for clients. His appointment will continue to grow our ‘Connected Specialist’ offering, adding a greater depth of expertise to our multi-channel approach,” says Stanley.

Harland, who worked at Mindshare in the UK for seven years before returning home to New Zealand, says he is excited to be in a role that’s all about maximising results of online content.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to offer clients digital content that is truly insight based, creative and results driven. Any agency can step into the online content space, but unless you really understand it in-depth, a client could end up with an expensive piece of content and 100 views on YouTube. The expertise our team offers ensures this doesn’t happen. We offer everything from high-level content strategy through to the development and project management of the content itself,” says Harland.

PHDIQ specialises in both traditional and non-traditional digital solutions; since being established in 2007, it has grown to 21 team members – a dedicated group of specialists across digital strategy, planning and buying, content development, social media and search.

ENDS

About PHD

PHD Worldwide is known globally as an innovator in communications planning and buying across broadcast, print, digital, mobile, social and emerging media. Built on a culture of thought leadership, PHD’s philosophy is “Finding a Better Way.” PHD is one of the world’s fastest growing and most awarded media and communication agencies, with over 3,000 staff working in over 80 offices worldwide.

Spark started life in 1999, growing to become New Zealand’s leading independent media agency. The agency rebranded in 2007 to Spark PHD, having joined the global PHD network. It was the first media agency in New Zealand to open a PR and activation arm, known as Spark PR & Activate, and in 2007 Spark PHD created a digital division in the form of PHDIQ, which specialises in both traditional and non-traditional digital solutions. Together, the three business arms form PHD Group.

The PHD network is part of the Omnicom Media Group (www.omnicommediagroup.com), a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) www.phdmedia.com

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