GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, has hired Lisa Squillace to drive the expansion of GroupM’s entertainment capabilities in Australia.
Squillace has joined the company from Network Ten Paramount and will head up GroupM’s Motion Entertainment division. She will be tasked with co-developing, co-producing, distributing premium content, and delivering bespoke brand opportunities.
GroupM Motion Entertainment will be operational in Australia and New Zealand in January 2025. The introduction of GroupM Motion Entertainment provides a pathway for media partners, creatives, executive producers and brands in Australia to work more closely to deliver premium content for local audiences, and inject capital into Australian productions, supporting the Australian entertainment industry.
“GroupM Motion Entertainment is our commitment to forging deeper, more meaningful connections between Australian consumers and our clients’ brands that go way beyond brand partnerships. Lisa’s expertise in entertainment and driving innovative partnerships makes her perfectly suited to lead the charge. She will work in collaboration with our agencies, as well as producers, networks, and publishers across Australia, to develop mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver premium entertainment experiences, ultimately driving brand growth,” said Melissa Hey, GroupM Australia & New Zealand, chief investment officer.
As head of GroupM Motion Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand, Squillace will lead the launch of the business unit, working closely with agencies Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom to unearth opportunities and create unique long-term entertainment partnerships for GroupM clients. She will report to Melissa Hey, chief investment officer at GroupM.
“Entertainment is a proven and successful way for our clients to connect with their consumers. We know that entertainment equals engagement, engagement equals attention and attention equals action. I’m thrilled to join GroupM to lead Motion Entertainment and unlock those opportunities for clients, help shape the future entertainment landscape and support local content production,” added Squillace.
Squillace was most recently national sales director at Network Ten Paramount and has over 20 years of experience in media and entertainment, specialising in the development of new business models, commercial concepts and the implementation of multi-million-dollar brand investments in premium cross-platform content.
Her career spans Seven, Nine and Network Ten Paramount where she built high-performing sales teams, launched digital channels, worked on sponsorships and commercial partnerships around shows such as MasterChef, MKR, Australian Idol and Big Brother at their peak. Squillace has also been Chair of the Think TV board, and a recognised winner in the B&T Women in Media Awards.
