Matt Buchanan named judge at CLIO Awards 2012

Managing Director of Pulse Communications, Matt Buchanan has been announced as a juror for the 2012 CLIO Awards in the Public Relations category.

The CLIO Awards is an international advertising, design and communications competition which recognises and rewards creative excellence in the industry. Richard

Beckman, CEO of Prometheus Global Media, parent company of the CLIOs, said “ The CLIO Awards has forged its reputation as the world’s most influential advertising competition thanks in large part to the calibre of our jurors and the integrity of our judging process.

These jurors represent the very top talent in their respective fields and will bring the highest standards of excellence to the CLIOs.”

This year’s CLIO Awards will be held in May at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Global entertainment leader, Activision, appoints Pulse Communications

Pulse Communications has boosted its youth and entertainment portfolio with its appointment by Activision, the world’s leading interactive entertainment and video games publisher.

The agency will work closely with Activision and its partner agencies to create a strategic and creative communications plan, incorporating all elements of traditional media plus social media stakeholder engagement, ambassador programmes and high-profile experiential activations.

Pulse won the Activision account in a competitive pitch and will work in tandem with Activision’s in-house PR and marketing team across the Activision portfolio including games releases, downloadable content and new entertainment IPs.

Activision Senior Vice President, Ben Graetz, said: “We are thrilled to be working with an agency of Pulse’s calibre and know they will be a great partner in what will be one of the biggest years ever for our fans and for Activision.”

The first campaign for Pulse will be the launch of the innovative new kid’s property, Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure. This will be followed closely by the launch of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, which is widely expected to be the biggest entertainment product of the year.

The win further boosts the youth and entertainment portfolio at Pulse, which includes leading brands such as Twentieth Century Fox, Hot Wheels, LG, Monster High and Disney and adds to a string of recent business wins including Kimberley-Clark, Mattel, and Carnival Cruise Lines Australia.

Pulse Communications Managing Director, Matt Buchanan, said: “Gaming now dominates the entertainment industry and Activision is the best in class, so this is definitely an exciting win for Pulse.

“As the company who launched Xbox in Australia, we have the perfect skill set to hit the ground running and plenty of keen gamers among the team, raring to get started. With properties such as Call of Duty, the most successful entertainment property in history, Activision is an amazing addition to our youth and entertainment portfolio.”

Pulse Communications is part of Ogilvy PR, the largest and most awarded public relations agency in Australia. Ogilvy PR Australia is a joint venture between Ogilvy PR Worldwide and STW Group, Australia’s leading marketing content and communications services group.

Ends.

For more information contact:

Rebecca Tilly

STW Group

Ph: +61 410 501 043

Ogilvy PR’s NextGenLeaders 2011

On Thursday 24^th March, Ogilvy Public Relations launched its 2011 leadership program, NextGenLeaders – Creating Giants. This is the third year we have run NGL, a 12 month program designed to train and develop 30 of our future leaders across all of the Ogilvy PR businesses.

This year’s theme of ‘Creating Giants’ grew from the ‘David Ogilvy Giants’ which focuses on exhibiting and living the characteristics that David Ogilvy looked for. We have built the program around three pillars – The Craft, The People and The Performance.

Matt Buchanan, Managing Director of Pulse Communications is the new champion of the program, taking over from Kieran Moore who has led NGL for the last two years.

Matt said: “Our Next Generation Leaders program is testament of our investment in rising and senior talent. This year’s program will provide participants with the best industry training to enhance and improve both technical and behavioural communication skills as well as training in Ogilvy tools, products and services. It’s also a great networking opportunity for participants to work with other like minded people from across our different businesses.”

Pulse lures youth marketing expert to Australian shores

Award-winning consumer agency Pulse Communications has hired another leading consultant from the UK, with experiential and youth marketing expert Lex Deasley joining the company this month as Practice Director.

With more than 15 years’ experience in lifestyle brand PR, Deasley most recently worked at Red Bull as Senior Communications Manager, National Campaigns & Culture, where he was responsible for the promotion of the brand through properties such as Music Academy, X-Fighters, Air Race & BC One.

He has also worked at recognised integrated agency Exposure in London, where he was responsible for its highly-visible sports and entertainment division consulting to brands such as Nike, Levi’s, Rizla, Umbro and Triumph motorcycles.

The senior hire follows a spate of new business wins and continued client growth for Pulse, and will see Deasley head up the highly successful CUB account and focus on new business.  He will also drive the development of a new youth and sports offering within the organisation.

Deasley joins Matt Buchanan at the agency, who returned back to Sydney to take up the position of Managing Director at Pulse in September this year after a 12-year stint in the UK.

Buchanan said Deasley had unique experience in youth marketing, sport and creating “talkability for brands”.

“Lex has worked on some highly successful, creative and innovative campaigns where he has helped generate positive word of mouth in a challenging space,” he said.

“His work with brands like Red Bull, Nike and Umbro has been outstanding, and will be a key factor in the future direction of the business.  We’re excited to have him on board.”

Pulse was awarded the Best New Consultancy in 2004 (Asia Pacific PR Awards), Campaign of the Year (2008 Asia Pacific PR Awards), and has gone on to win over 50 Australian and global awards including the top honour for all WPP-owned PR agencies worldwide.

Pulse is part of Ogilvy PR Australia, a joint venture between Ogilvy PR Worldwide and STW Group, Australia’s leading marketing content and communications services group.

Pulse to race ahead with Matt Buchanan

Ogilvy PR Australia has brought ex-pat Matt Buchanan back to Sydney to take up the reins at consumer agency Pulse Communications. Matt returns to Australia after a 12-year stint in the UK, having held senior roles at The Red Consultancy, Lexis Public Relations and the Bell Pottinger Group.

Most recently heading up the consumer brands division at The Red Consultancy in London, Matt begins work at Pulse from September 6.  He replaces outgoing Managing Director, Samantha Allen, who has been promoted within Ogilvy PR Worldwide to lead the agency’s Global Consumer Marketing practice from New York.

Ogilvy PR Australia’s Managing Director, John Studdert said: “Matt’s track record speaks for itself – he’s led award-winning UK and global work for some of the world’s biggest brands and has successfully grown his 40-strong division despite the tough economic times.  His creative flair and deep sector expertise will begin delivering immediately for Pulse’s clients, and we know he’ll contribute to our wider success story within the Australian market.”

Pulse is one of Asia Pacific’s most awarded and successful consumer PR agencies with a client base that includes LG Electronics, Tourism Australia, Fosters CUB, Rolls Royce, Ford and Unilever.

Taking over the 20 plus strong team, Matt will bring a wide-ranging sectoral perspective to the business, with experience ranging from Pfizer to Samsung, Virgin Money and Coca-Cola.

Having led strategic and creative thinking for brands like eBay, Gumtree and MySpace, he will also work closely with Ogilvy PR’s worldwide 360˚ Digital Influence group, developing bespoke campaigns and providing senior counsel for clients. Matt has a bachelor’s degree from RMIT University, and began his career at Hill & Knowlton and Porter Novelli in Australia.

He commented: “During my time in the UK, I’ve worked with, and learnt from, some of the best people in the industry. The chance to return home to Australia and take up this exciting role at Pulse was an opportunity too good to resist.  I’m looking forward to building the Pulse brand even further and working with the great team and the other companies within the Ogilvy PR and STW Group to deliver creative excellence for our clients.”

Pulse was awarded the Best New Consultancy in 2004 (Asia Pacific PR Awards), Campaign of the Year (2008 Asia Pacific PR Awards), and has gone on to win over 50 Australian and global awards including the top honour for all WPP-owned PR agencies worldwide.

Ogilvy PR Australia is a joint venture between Ogilvy PR Worldwide and STW Group, Australia’s leading marketing content and communications services group.