Chief Marketing Officer + Advisory Board + Project Manager

• Jul 2022 - Present

Having recently completed the re-brand of Power Business Services and eCloud Business Services to exedee, I am now contracted to this exciting and successful Kiwi tech company in the capacity of Chief Marketing Officer & Advisory Board Member, and Project Manager. Having recently completed the re-brand of Power Business Services and eCloud Business Services to exedee, I am now contracted to this exciting and successful Kiwi tech company in the capacity of Chief Marketing Officer & Advisory Board Member, and Project Manager.

Brand Strategist & Marketing Consultant

• Jan 2022 - Present

After 34 years as the majority owner and Managing Director of independent, full-service advertising agency GSL Promotus, I sold down my shareholding and exited the business in 2021. Moving to Whanganui in late 2021 saw me start a new chapter and a new business - B for Brand. Now working as a freelance Brand Strategist and Marketing Consultant, I'm relishing the opportunity to contribute to the business success of others. It is great to be in a position to select the projects that really tick the boxes that interest me the most, and where my expertise can add the most value. I've recently completed a re-brand for a successful Kiwi tech company on a global growth trajectory, which was a great project to be part of ... and I'm continuing to provide marketing consultancy services to take them forward. I'm just as passionate as I have always been about marketing - and in particular the power of good strategy and strong brands - and the role I can play in developing them. So if you have a project or a campaign that needs strategic or brand expertise and big-picture thinking in brand or marketing strategy - contact me and we'll talk!

Managing Director

• Jul 2013 - Feb 2022

After over 30 years of ownership, I sold down my shareholding in GSLP in 2021. As Managing Director of GSL Promotus for many years, I'm very proud of the agency I helped establish and build up, initially as Promotus and then successfully merging with GSL Network in 2013. During my tenure, GSL Promotus grew to be one of the largest and longest-standing full-service independent agencies in NZ. And for that I wish to recognise the outstanding contribution of my very loyal and long-standing staff, most of whom have now also left GSL Promotus and moved on to new career opportunities. And of course to the many long-standing clients with whom I forged lasting relationships - thank you for putting your trust in me and my team for so long, to deliver great work for you - it was an amazing journey and I loved every minute of it! But 2021 was the right time for me to move on - the agency world and business model is rapidly changing - and new players are gaining ground on the traditional ad agency business model, which is great to see and really interesting to observe.

Owner

• 1987 - Jul 2013

Managing Director

• 1987 - 2013

Joined small boutique agency Promotus in 1987 as Media Director, and quickly resurrected the business and acquired the majority shareholding in the business together with partner Barry Peace. Enjoyed many years of success as a fully accredited independent agency, with Suzuki New Zealand becoming our largest client in July 1996. Took over as Managing Director in 2005, and merged the business with GSL Network in 2013.

General Manager

• 2001 - 2004

Headhunted by Carat NZ to run their Wellington office in 2001, but remained a shareholder of my existing company Promotus, and facilitated a media place-through arrangement with Carat. Returned to Promotus in 2004 to take over when my business partner became ill and was no longer able to run the agency. Headhunted by Carat NZ to run their Wellington office in 2001, but remained a shareholder of my existing company Promotus, and facilitated a media place-through arrangement with Carat. Returned to Promotus in 2004 to take over when my business partner became ill and was no longer able to run the agency.

Media Manager

• 1985 - 1987

Joined GNA in 1985 as Media Manager, also took on Account Servicing Role. Left two years later when GNA acquired a struggling Wellington boutique agency Promotus Advertising, and they asked me to help "get it back on its feet". Joined GNA in 1985 as Media Manager, also took on Account Servicing Role. Left two years later when GNA acquired a struggling Wellington boutique agency Promotus Advertising, and they asked me to help "get it back on its feet".

Publications Manager

• 1981 - 1985

Joined Press Research Bureau in 1981 while I was studying Marketing at Victoria University. My primary role was to edit their existing Media Planner publication, and to establish and publish a new media information system for advertising agencies called PRRADS (Press Research Rate & Data System). PRRADS was updated weekly, and quickly went on to become the "bible" for ad agency media departments, and is still used today. When PRRADS was sold to Nielsens in 1984, I decided to move into the agency world, to take advantage of the intimate knowledge I had acquired of all NZ media owners and suppliers.