VMLY&R kicks off 2022 with raft of new appointments across Australia

(Pictured L-R: Image from left to right: Steve Mair, Erin Hunter, Franc Xavier and Vanessa Tout)

VMLY&R has announced fourteen new hires across its Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney offices, including four senior roles in strategy, creative, experience design and business management. This announcement comes after strong performance start to 2022 for the agency.

Says Thomas Tearle, CEO, VMLY&R Australia and New Zealand: “We’ve had a fantastic start to 2022, with exciting expansion of several client partnerships and new business wins in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Wellington. We’ve taken this opportunity to both invest in our team and to add to our capability with these new appointments. Steve, Erin, Vanessa and Franc bring exceptional talent and more importantly are just awesome humans who’ll take us towards the next stage in our journey. I’m so pleased to welcome them to VMLY&R Australia and New Zealand.”

Award winning experience designer, Steve Mair, joins VMLY&R Brisbane as head of customer experience. For over 20 years, Mair has been delivering work for clients across the government, finance, pharmaceutical, health and tech sectors. He has won awards both nationally and internationally, including BADC, AIMIA awards, Cannes Lions, Effies, and a best of show at the digital w3 awards.

Says Mair: “I have been impressed by the work produced by VMLY&R in Australia and New Zealand over the past couple of years. I can’t wait to join the rapidly growing team and continue building connected experiences for brands across the region.”

Erin Hunter joins the team as Australia and New Zealand business director, where she will be responsible for developing and executing commerce strategy and plans for key clients. Hunter joins VMLY&R from MKTG, where she led the shopper and experiential offering, working with brands across FMCG, Pharma and Beverage sectors. Additionally, Hunter brings experience in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) spaces, having worked with organisations such as R U OK? And Black Dog Institute.

Vanessa Tout joins as client services director for VMLY&R’s Melbourne office. This strategic hire comes as the agency invests in bolstering its CX skills. With over 15 years of experience working at agencies in the UK, Australia and New Zealand including Isobar and Digitas, Tout brings with her a wealth of knowledge and expertise in digital transformation strategies, marketing campaigns and brand and commerce platforms.

Finally, VMLY&R Brisbane group account director François-Xavier (Franc) Hafner joins the team from CHE Proximity, where he spent over three years leading work for AGL and La Trobe university. Prior to this, Franc worked across a number of agencies in London, including Grey, Havas and BBH, where he won the Creative Grand Prix for Audi ‘Clowns’.

The other ten roles span production, social, account management, user experience, technology and creative sectors.