+61 Client Partner Jake Stopper joins Colenso BBDO as Group Managing Partner on Spark NZ

Jake Stopper has departed +61 after two and a half years to join Colenso BBDO in Auckland as Group Managing Partner, heading up Spark NZ.

At +61 – the bespoke agency partnership built for Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications brand – Stopper served as Client Partner, acting as a foundational figure and lead across multiple programmes of work.

His move across the Tasman follows a successful run in Sydney and New York, where his drive for high-impact, culture-defining work became evident. A natural collaborator and skeptic of traditional silos, Stopper has built a reputation for getting hands-on and nurturing strategic thinking.

Says Stopper: “Colenso is an agency I’ve had my eye on since I was a junior executive in New York, admiring their work from afar. It never remotely occurred to me that I might end up there one day. So this is all still a little surreal to me. Getting in here, meeting the people, feeling the energy. The decision to make the leap became sort of obvious. It was an operation and a culture I wanted to be a part of.”

Says Angela Watson, CEO, Colenso BBDO: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jake to the team. He possesses an exceptional knack for balancing commercial acumen with the relentless pursuit of distinctive ideas. His achievements at +61 and Special Group underscore his ability to scale large brands through cultural relevance and bold creative work. Jake brings a fresh perspective and an energetic focus that will inspire our teams and bring value to our client partners.”

Adds Stopper: “I’ve been incredibly lucky over the course of my career to get the opportunities I’ve gotten. Being in the room with some of the most creative people on the planet. Participating in those debates. This felt like the natural next step. I’m just excited to get started.”

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