Socially led marketing agency Society has hired Alex Erasmus (pictured) as general manager of the Sydney agency, a new role reporting to national managing director Simone Blakers.

Erasmus has built an international career in digital communications including stints in Japan, the UK, New Zealand and Australia working in both agency and publisher environments.

Prior to joining Society he worked as content strategist for Bauer Media in Sydney and led the build-up of Bauer’s native offering as well as strategy for commercial content campaigns across flagship brands including Australian Women’s Weekly, Gourmet Traveller and Cosmopolitan.

Before Bauer Media, Erasmus was a senior strategist at creative digital agency Holler where, among many assignments, he created and led the strategy for Heineken’s ‘Open Your City’ campaign. He also spent stints at major public relations network Edelman as head of digital for Japan and social and paid media lead for the Sydney office.

“We welcome Alex to the team to support our continued growth,” said Blakers. “He is a strategic thinker who is passionate about creative ideas.

“His PR experience will bring a new perspective to our business, not to mention his experience leading large campaigns, community management teams and setting up paid-media and native media capabilities – all of which are aligned with Society’s core strengths.”

Commenting on his new assignment with Society, Erasmus said, “The social marketing industry views Society as a pace-setter in this highly competitive sector. The new general manager role is a terrific opportunity for my skills and experience. I am looking forward to meeting the clients and the agency teams.”

Society is the social marketing business within IPG Mediabrands Australia. The agency has a staff approaching 50 people and offices in Sydney and Melbourne.