Konrad Spilva, former CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network-owned agency Isobar, has joined independent publishing and media business Hardie Grant in a consulting role that sees him tasked with accelerating the transformation and growth strategy of the group.

Spilva will be advising Hardie Grant’s Executive Management team spanning the group’s marketing agencies, book publishing business and digital media brands.

Hardie Grant, a family-owned business headquartered in Melbourne, has experienced steady growth since being founded in 1997 by Fiona Hardie and Sandy Grant. With over 220 staff in offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London and San Francisco, Hardie Grant has set its sights on further international expansion and digital growth.

“Like many companies we have a digital transformation strategy in play, and the COVID era has shown us just how important it is, and how much there is to gain by rapidly accelerating that strategy. With that in mind, we intend to make use of Konrad’s skill and experience to navigate the internal and external environments, to look for growth opportunities, and help us come out of this moment even stronger,” said Sandy Grant, Chief Executive on Spilva’s appointment.

“It is time for us to ensure generational change in our leadership team is supported by generational change in our culture, systems and business ambitions,” continued Grant.

Spilva’s initial focus will be on Hardie Grant Media, the group’s marketing network led by MD Nick Hardie-Grant, who worked under Spilva at Isobar. Hardie Grant Media’s recent acquisition of video agency Sherpa, and expansion into PR through the launch of tide.pr were the start of Hardie Grant Media’s shift into delivering a more integrated client offering through specialist agencies. Spilva will be advising on further acquisitions and organic opportunities in digital content, data and insights and digital marketing.

Spilva will also be launching his own consulting business later this year focused on connecting brand, experience and technology transformation with business strategy. The new venture will be geared towards helping Australian businesses come out of the current recession stronger than they were on entering it.

“Hardie Grant is an amazing success story already and I’m really excited about their vision for the future. Hopefully I can play a small part in helping them realise their ambition to be a multi-platform content and media powerhouse in Australia and abroad,” said Konrad Spilva.