Senior Hires Strengthen Services At Thrive PR
Thrive has continued its charge to prove the strength of mid-sized independent PR agencies, with the appointment of four new senior hires across the business.
New roles include the two senior appointments in the Sydney office, and leads for both the Brisbane and Auckland operations.
Kristi McDonough has joined the Brisbane office as associate director and Brisbane lead (pictured above). With a career spanning nearly two decades in the Australian and US markets, she brings expertise in PR and brand strategy, marketing and events. Her accomplished sporting background (including state representation for rowing, hockey and snowboarding) has given Kristi the critical foundations for teamwork and leadership. Prior to Thrive, Kristi ran her own agency in the US (California and NYC) working on a multitude of local and global brands, specialising in the sports and lifestyle sectors. Recently returning to home soil, Kristi brings a rock solid performance history to the agency and will lead the team in the Queensland market.
Amanda Gormley and Kim McMillan have joined the Sydney team as senior account director and account director respectively. Both join Thrive from multi-national agencies.
Gormley has worked in Australia and the UK on some of the world’s most famous brands, including ALDI, Nespresso, Mars, Johnson & Johnson and Glenfiddich. With a proven ability to lead and manage mass scale campaigns, Amanda also specialises in event management and influencer relations. A strategic and creative thinker who is well-practised at turning brand stories into powerful news generation, Gormley’s experience also includes working on integrated marketing initiatives on both a global and local scale. She joins Thrive following a successful career at Weber Shandwick.
Gormley said, “thrive pr + communications is on an exciting path right now, with a growing and diverse portfolio that will play to my strengths and present new opportunities for growth. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience in food and retail to the role and joining the agency as it embarks on new and exciting challenges.”
McMillan joins Thrive as a senior B2B and tech specialist from Text100. For nearly ten years she has delivered PR, marketing and digital services to leading local and global brands including Adobe, Amazon Web Services, Beats by Dr. Dre, Menulog, Skype, Universal Pictures and WeChat. She has worked with budding startups through to the world’s best enterprises across consumer and business technology, property, education, health, finance, HR and FMCG.
She has a passion for telling a great business story and a knack for moulding Thought Leaders. She commonly works with CEOs and executive teams on their profiling and positioning. Kim takes a measured, strategic and content-centred approach to her PR campaign work to deliver standout results for clients.
McMillan said, “I’m excited to be part of a dedicated, growing Aussie agency with influence and network across the country, second to none. Working with the best local and global brands each day to deliver impactful, integrated campaigns is just the icing on the cake.”
Lucinda Kennedy (nee East) has joined the Auckland office to lead operations with specialised experience in New Zealand and abroad. In both Auckland and New York City, Lucinda has led public relations campaigns for a host of world-renowned clients such as Marcus Samuelsson Group, AvroKo, Pop Up Globe and Bird on a Wire. She has also worked as a journalist at both ACP Media and Bauer Media Group and consequently has a deep network of contacts as well as an insider’s understanding of how the ever-changing media industry works.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Thrive team,” said Kennedy. “Thrive is a nimble independent agency, working with some of the biggest brands. I am excited to be delivering innovative and effective strategies both to the New Zealand market and across ANZ.”
Thrive managing director Leilani Abels, “I am delighted that Thrive continues to attract the best local industry talent. As an independent mid-sized agency, we invest in resources and our team like a major global agency yet we behave like a nimble, boutique agency with first class, hands-on service. Thrive has unique capabilities and elasticity which is a real advantage to our clients.”
Please login with linkedin to comment
Pay TVLatest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.