Colenso BBDO has expanded its leadership team, appointing Jake Stopper as group managing partner, heading up Spark NZ.
Stopper joins the agency from +61, the bespoke agency partnership built for Telstra. As client partner, he was a foundational figure and lead across multiple programmes of work.
His move across the Tasman follows a successful run in Sydney and New York. Stopper has built a reputation for getting hands-on and nurturing strategic thinking.
“Colenso is an agency I’ve had my eye on since I was a junior executive in New York, admiring their work from afar. It never remotely occurred to me that I might end up there one day. So this is all still a little surreal to me. Getting in here, meeting the people, feeling the energy. The decision to make the leap became sort of obvious. It was an operation and a culture I wanted to be a part of,” said Stopper.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jake to the team. He possesses an exceptional knack for balancing commercial acumen with the relentless pursuit of distinctive ideas. His achievements at +61 and Special Group underscore his ability to scale large brands through cultural relevance and bold creative work. Jake brings a fresh perspective and an energetic focus that will inspire our teams and bring value to our client partners,” said Colenso BBDO chief executive Angela Watson.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky over the course of my career to get the opportunities I’ve gotten. Being in the room with some of the most creative people on the planet. Participating in those debates. This felt like the natural next step. I’m just excited to get started,” Stopper added.
