WPP AUNZ appoints Bold founder Toby Hemming as head of communications and marketing
WPP AUNZ has announced the appointment of Toby Hemming as head of communications and marketing, Australia and New Zealand.
Working closely with CEO Jens Monsees, the newly created group role will lead internal and external communications and marketing programs across WPP AUNZ.
With global experience in the tech, media and marketing sectors, Hemming brings more than two decades of strategic communications leadership to the role. Most recently founder and managing director of APAC communications consultancy Bold, Hemming’s prior roles as head of communications at News Digital Media in Sydney and at BSkyB in London give him a rare blend of media, communications and agency skills.
Says Monsees: “We are proud to appoint a leader of Toby’s calibre into the business, complementing our ongoing strategy of focusing on creativity empowered by tech.
“His entrepreneurial abilities, commercial strategy and digital communication experience will be a core part of WPP AUNZ’s ongoing success.”
Commenting on the announcement Hemming said he was excited for the opportunity to join such a creative and vibrant organisation, with a clear vison of future growth: “Throughout my career I have worked with some of the world’s most innovative technology, media and advertising brands. WPP AUNZ’s strategic direction is in line with the huge digital growth opportunities that continue to present themselves across all markets.
“It’s great to have the opportunity to collaborate with such inspiring brands and leaders, to bring the company’s vision and direction to life.”
6 Comments
I took a voluntary pay cut to try “save people’s jobs”, got made redundant. Then WPP touts a new and expensive hire even though there is supposed to be a hiring and promotions freeze across the network?
I’ve been over worked and suffering due to no hires allowed in the company and now this? How can the senior leaders hire people and the frontline workers cannot. This is demotivating for all staff at WPP AU NZ.
I’m sure Toby is a good guy but after months of crazy hours, salary sacrifices and donated leave, I feel like the best marketing move would be to sort out the endless pay rise increase. Guaranteed instant uplift of NPS and good will toward the company.
I worked there for years until a few years back and, COVID or not, it’s the same old story. Working people to the bone, supposed pay/hiring freezes and an expectation to keep going, do even more for less. Run by bean counters. It’s all about the bottom line. That’s important for any business, but it shouldn’t be all be about that. Unlike the poor folk there now, I was just lucky enough to not be stuck in the job without any other options to move across to. Hang in there…
Pretty poor form to PR this – Like many others, I took a voluntary pay cut, saw heaps of my colleagues getting made redundant. We’ve been working longer hours than ever, and the work is suffering. It was already tight before the pandemic, but PRing a high-salary head of marketing and communications hire just seems like a slap in the face. Nothing on Toby, I’m sure he’s great, but right now we need more people on the ground doing the day to day work before we all burn out. It feels like WPP are taking advantage of the fact their employees are all in vulnerable positions since not many agencies are hiring permanent roles, so they hold all the cards and power right now.
When your whole work force is struggling, tired, fearful, voluntarily emptying out their annual leave allowances and agreeing to work 4 day weeks or 9 day fortnights to protect the future of the holding group of the company they signed up to work for, this is a very bad move.
If there’s a pay freeze and a hiring freeze for the people working harder than ever while fearing for their futures, creating a (brand new) position like this is bad enough, but announcing it so publicly just seems crazy.
Read the room guys.