Designworks appoints Shelley Winsor to new group general manager talent and operations role

Designworks, part of STW, has appointed leading business and talent development professional Shelley Winsor to the newly-created management role of group general manager talent and operations.

Working directly with chairman & group CEO Sven Baker and the senior leadership team in each of its six offices, Winsor will be responsible for growing talent and capability, and leading operational efficiency across the Designworks group. She joins on October 20.

Baker said the agency’s continued momentum and regional growth strategy will benefit greatly from a role dedicated to attracting, retaining and growing the best people in the industry, while also nurturing world-class talent from within its team of 135 people through an enhanced personal development program.

Says Baker: “Attracting and developing amazing Designworkers is central to the long term growth and sustainability of our business. We’ve created a new role dedicated to doing this and we’ve found the perfect person in Shelley. Her passion for brand building, creativity and business performance is matched by her desire to find, develop and coach the best people.”

Winsor said two decades of experience in varying roles with leading agencies in the region including five years as business director at Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland had secured her passion for creative and driving business, but she was particularly proud of growing a diverse range of talent through the years.

Says Winsor: “It’s funny, people often say to me ‘I wouldn’t be here without you’ but really I wouldn’t be where I am without them. At the end of the day the work we produce can only be as good as the people who make it happen, and if you have the best talent, performing at their optimum then amazing things happen.”

Winsor said that she has always admired the Designworks ethos and has enjoyed collaborating and even competing over the years on key clients such as Westpac, Gen-i and Skinny. But the current energy, momentum and strategic growth focus in the business has drawn her to this new role.

Says Winsor: “Designworks’ commitment to helping brands from this part of the world succeed around the world runs deep with everyone in the business. It’s wonderful for people to have such a clear vision and it permeates through the culture. I’ve been lucky to collaborate with Sven in designing this new role and can’t wait to get stuck in and start working with him.”

Winsor brings more than 20 years experience in Australia and New Zealand to the role, including senior management positions at Saatchi & Saatchi (Auckland and Sydney), Y&R Auckland, Mojo Sydney, Ogilvy Sydney plus specializing in multicultural communications at Ogilvy Australia’s Etcom. She has worked on many of the region’s biggest and most loved brands including Weet-bix, Marmite, L&P, Pump, Sealord, BNZ, Telstra, Westpac and Qantas and also has extensive Government and not-for profit experience.

Designworks, the region’s leading strategic design and customer experience practice with offices across New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia, is part of the STW Group, Australasia’s leading marketing content and communications group.