PHDiQ’s Alysha Delany resigns from general manager role, Spark Group’s head of strategy, Jane Stanley promoted to GM role PHDiQ + strategy

Spark Group CEO, Louise Bond, announces today the resignation of Alysha Delany (left) who for the past six years has operated as general manager of digital specialist agency, PHDiQ.

Says Bond: “Alysha has been instrumental in building PHDiQ to become one of the country’s most successful digital media agencies and her contribution over the years has been invaluable.”

Delany was the single founding member of Spark’s digital business arm back in 2007. Under her strong leadership, the business is now made up of 25 experts across search, social, digital consulting and data in addition to the core competencies of digital media planning and buying.

Says Bond: “While Delany has decided now is the time to turn her hand to a new challenge, the Spark team will miss her hugely and wish her all the very best for the future.”

Delany’s last day will be 3 May 2013.

Change naturally brings with it an opportunity to further build upon success. For too long, traditional media and digital media departments around the world have operated in silos, with each discipline focused on growing the expertise related to their particular channels. Spark Group is an agency that looks to guide clients on the future, away from a solo mentality approach to communications, and towards joint thinking.

Says Bond: “While we intend to maintain Spark’s current model of three separate business units, Spark PHD, PHDiQ and Spark PR and Activate, working under one roof, we recognise there’s an even better way for us to continue delivering value to clients.

“Strategy is the fundamental link between the media disciplines and it’s at the centre of everything we do. We are therefore delighted to announce the promotion of Spark Group’s head of strategy, Jane Stanley (left), to the position of general manager PHDiQ and strategy.   Jane’s new remit will include both business management of PHDiQ and the function of our thriving Spark Group strategy team.”

Increasingly, digital has to be at the heart of every strategy, not an adjunct or afterthought to it. 

Says Bond: “To have the head of our strategic offering in charge of digital is a game changer in New Zealand.”

Stanley is no stranger to senior business management and the world of digital. Prior to taking on the role as Spark Group’s head of strategy in mid-2012, Stanley headed up the strategic planning team at creative agency Clemenger Harvie Edge in Melbourne, where she also led the creation of the agency’s social media offering and was responsible for the leadership of digital production.

Stanley also held the strategic planning director position at TMW in London for eight years, responsible for a large team of digital and direct strategic planners, search and social media experts for the agency’s Blue Chip client base which included T-Mobile, Unilever and Diageo. 

Stanley returns to Spark from maternity leave on 2 April, moving directly into her new role, with a one-month handover with Delany.

With these changes underway and with both digital and strategy teams continuing to grow, Spark is creating several new positions and will actively be recruiting fresh new talent into the business.