The Seven Network has upped its stake in West Australian Newspapers, with the Kerry Stokes owned company spending $41m on increasing its share from 19.4% to 22.4%. Seven, which is the largest single shareholder in WAN lost its battle to have Stokes and Seven network board director Peter Gammell elected to the WAN earlier this year.
Westpac New Zealand has consolidated its direct and digital business with Saatchi & Saatchi DGS, replacing incumbent AimProximity which has held the account for the last 18 months. Westpac’s general manager of marketing and brand experience, Ian Sutcliffe, said the bank has reviewed services provided to the bank in order to simplify the number of agency relationships it maintains. “Our goal is to achieve improved efficiencies and coordination as we continue to refine communication with our customers,” he said. “We have a long-standing relationship with Saatchis and believe there will be benefits to consolidating our direct and digital marketing with them.”
The Nine Network has appointed Sharna McIntyre to head up Nine’s integration department in Melbourne. McIntyre was previously with Starcom MediaVest for the past eight years. She will work closely with the national head of integration, Sally Millett and Melbourne sales director Ian Paterson. She starts on September 8.
Sensis has opened the door of www.yellow.com.au, to search engines for the first time. The move enables search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Live Search to index the 2 million-plus listings on www.yellow.com.au and make them available to people using search engines to find local businesses.
Female automotive website HerCar.com.au has acquired competing website SheBuys.com.au, cementing its position as the number one player in the online female automotive sector. The two sites are set to merge this month. Sydney based private equity player, Amstal Capital Partners has been secured as the key investor.
ACMI cinema in Federation Square will host the screening of the finalists of Projections 08 – the competition for spotting up-and-coming Australian photographic talent. Tonight winners will be announced in four categories: best emerging commercial photographer; best art photographer; best editorial photographer; and best overall photographer. Tickets are $25 and are only available through moshtix.com.au.
