EXCLUSIVE: STW’s Designworks has poached The Leading Edge’s managing director – leading to a change at the top for both agencies.
Tim Riches (pictured right), managing director at TLE has been appointed into the same role at strategic brand design practice Designworks, where he will lead the agency’s Sydney and Melbourne offices.
Sven Baker, Group CEO at Designworks, told B&T: “We are delighted and thrilled to have someone of Tim’s calibre and background joining the Designworks Group to steer the next phase of our growth and development.”
Riches’ role is a newly–created position at Designworks. The agency’s Sydney office was launched in February after it took control of fellow STW-owned Yello Sydney.
Over at TLE, Lee Naylor, former global head of disciplines at the research and strategy company, has been promoted to the role vacated by Riches.
Naylor joined TLE in 2010, having worked in the research industry in the UK, USA and Australia for the past 20 years.
TLE’s global head of strategy, Chrissy Blackburn, is taking on an expanded role to include responsibility for the qualitative research team and innovation leadership for TLE Sydney, as well as her existing global role.
Andy Bateman, global CEO of TLE, said: “Lee’s been instrumental in us becoming the business that we are today. He’s helped to reshape IP and our disciplines across the board, particularly in the areas of quantitative and data sciences. Lee’s promotion, combined with an expanded role for Chrissy, will drive TLE’s future growth in this market.”
In other moves at TLE, strategy director Alex Siewert is joining the Sydney leadership team, which also includes John Crowley, head of client business, Paul Sinkinson, head of quantitative analytics, and Neil Sangster, global head of shopper.
Pictured below, from left: Andy Bateman, Chrissy Blackburn, Lee Naylor
