ASIA-PACIFIC – AUSTRALIA, JULY 9, 2012: Ramping up its digital efforts, McCann Worldgroup Australia made senior appointments in its Sydney and Melbourne offices.
In Sydney, Justine Marino joins as Head of Digital, working across all clients. Justine started life ‘client-side’ working for some heavy-hitting technology companies including Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, before making the transition to agency life in 2000. A self-confessed geek, she spent the first eight years on agency-side as one of the original team members of boutique digital agency Clear Blue Day.
Since then she has worked across a portfolio of agencies under the STW Group, lent a hand at some of Australia’s fastest growing digital agencies and even notched up a stint at DDB. She has helped create and deliver digital solutions for a range of clients, including Telstra, Subaru, Sunbeam, NRMA Motoring Services, Diageo, Pioneer Electronics, Kitchen Connection, Macquarie Bank, CommSec, Moet-Hennessy, Mission Australia and Anglicare.
In addition, award-winning creative Joe Hawkins is joining McCann Sydney in an associate creative director role following more than five years overseas, having spent the past year at digital hotshop R/GA Singapore and a four-year stint at DDB Auckland. Prior to this, Joe was writing up a storm at Gatecrasher Perth.
Joe’s awards cabinet boasts medal from all major award shows, including Cannes, One Show, D&AD, LIA, Adfest, AWARD and Axis, and he’s worked with a diverse range of clients in both a traditional and digital capacity.
At R/GA, he worked on digital projects for Rip Curl, Wateraid, Mastercard and Unilever (Rexona), while at DDB he tackled work for SKY TV, Cadbury, McDonald’s, Stella Artois, The Warehouse and National Foundation for the Deaf.
In Melbourne, Rod Leviton joins the MRM team as Front End Web Developer following more than four years as Head of Digital Media at Struck & Spink. Rod has a passion for everything web, with a special fondness for new technologies – especially responsive design techniques using jQuery and CSS animations. He has experience in planning and executing many web-based projects, as well as TVCs.
In his new role, Rod will lead front-end development and help expand MRM Australia’s technical infrastructures.
McCann Worldgroup CEO Ben Lilley said: “Our focus continues to be on appointing first-rate talent as the reinvention of McCann as a progressive digitally focused agency takes shape. With Justine, Joe and Rod, we have added another killer combination of skills.”