Bird flies from Saatchi’s Sydney to Naked NZ
Naked has hired Simon Bird from Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney as one of their key personnel in their New Zealand operation. His hiring – effective mid January – completes the management partnership that will run the Auckland office, and mirrors the successful model Naked has used around the world. The New Zealand leadership reins will be shared by Simon Bird and Matt O’Sullivan.
“Simon joining creates a whole new dynamic, and not just for Naked but the industry in general”, says O’Sullivan. “As there’s no other media-led offering of this caliber in the market. With the amount of change also occurring across the industry we are certainly right for the times, and we’ll be looking to challenge the established model”.
Says Bird: “I’m really excited about joining Naked NZ. I’ve watchedthem with interest as they’ve expanded around the globe, clearlythey’ve been very successful everywhere they’ve launched and I’d liketo think NZ will be too. I think the Naked model is a great fit for theNew Zealand market”.
Says Mike Wilson, founding partner of Naked Australia and New Zealand:”Simon’s appointment is a really strong endorsement about how committedwe are to New Zealand. We have an extremely strong Sydney office tocomplement and provide support, so we’re looking forward to 2010, anddiscussions with significant new clients are well under way.”
Prior to his current role at Saatchi’s Sydney, Bird was acommunications planning director (Carat Auckland), brand planner (MojoMelbourne) and head of media planning (Optimedia Auckland) in NewZealand.
Naked NZ has also appointed Te Roi Dodson from Ogilvy Media as a Comms planner, who also starts mid January and will be driving trans Tasman strategy for Coca-Cola in NZ.
8 Comments
Huh? When Matt was the only employee he was the boss, and now a second person signs on they’re “sharing the reins”?
If they hire a receptionist will he get a seat at the top table too? Feels like a bad ep of Mad Men to me.
Also, whoever thinks that reins and reigns are the same word is a compelling argument for not leaving your communications in the hands of a media agency.
I think u are missing the point.
It’s a fine hat.
Good on ya Simon.
Shouldn’t he be wearing a fox hat instead of a straw one? Because when he told his friends he was off to work at Naked Auckland, all of them said “wear the fox hat.”
And that, ladies, is the funniest joke you will read on this blog this year.
You’re right, that’s a really funny joke. Just a pity it’s ripped off from a funny Miller TVC.
it was also a very funny hat.
Just a pity someone seems to have ripped it off Simon’s head.
What a stupid comment that first post is, you must be stuck in a really burning ship. I’ve worked with both of these guys, and from a creative point of view they’re miles ahead of everyone else in media. Makes me want go out in my own!