Enero Group has appointed Gavin Coombes to the newly created role of group chief strategy officer, to be based in Sydney.

Coombes will start the role from 1 August 2019 this year. 

Enero CEO Matthew Melhuish said: “Our Group is in great shape and on a growth trajectory.

“We are looking to streamline, evolve and grow and Gavin will play a key role in helping us achieve these goals.

“Gavin’s experience is hard to match given he has worked in a hands-on capacity across public relations, public affairs, all forms of digital media, direct and database marketing, brand consulting and advertising over a total of 23 years in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Melhuish said Coombes will oversee the implementation of the group strategy including ongoing integration of group operating brands and increasing capabilities of each brand. 

He will also be responsible for securing major new business opportunities.

Melhuish added: “He will join the executive team in identifying, securing and on-boarding acquisitions and will also spearhead collaborations with new marketing technologies and strategic partnerships with providers of automation and intelligence.”

Coombes most recently served as president of Edelman Digital for Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa where he was responsible for initiating, assembling and overseeing the company’s marketing services assets in those regions over a five-year period.

For the last two of those years, his remit was expanded to include all Edelman Digital assets across Europe. Prior to that, Gavin was Asia-Pacific CEO of Profero (now MullenLowe Profero) and FutureBrand. From the early to mid-2000s he served with Havas, ultimately as head of all marketing services brands for the Asia-Pacific region.

On his appointment, Coombes said: “Joining Enero brings me close to home in every sense, enabling me to work amongst some of the most talented marketing teams in the world, and helping extend the global reach of Enero.

“The quality of the Enero people I’ve met, the warmth of their culture and their hunger to win were all really attractive to me. I am excited about evolving the Enero offer and broadening and deepening capabilities across the Group.

“There is a clear gap in the international market for a next-generation, boutique Group offering strategy, creative and digital services in an integrated way, and Enero is perfectly placed to make a significant impact in this space. I look forward to assisting each agency deliver better outcomes for their clients.”