Slingshot Names First Head Of Digital And Data

Media and creative agency Slingshot has appointed Chris Johnston, Carat’s former head of digital and direct for Woolworths, in the newly created role of head of digital and data, as the independent agency continues to expand.

Johnston will lead Slingshot’s digital and data offering across all clients reporting into strategy chief Simon Corbett, who has led the agency’s development in this area. The experienced media and communications specialist will also work alongside Slingshot’s data scientist Stuart Dennon who was appointed earlier this year, as the agency continues to invest in its data product.

Simon Corbett, strategy chief at Slingshot said: “We are genuinely proud of the steps forward we have made in the realms of data, digital and direct strategy. We have done some great work in all these areas to date and with someone of Chris’s calibre now part of the team I’m certain our best work is yet to come.”

Chris Johnston

Before joining Slingshot, Johnston was the digital and data lead across Woolworths group companies for more than three years overseeing delivery across brand, performance, content and social, data and programmatic for Woolworths supermarket, Big W, Dan Murphy, BWS, Cellarmasters and Masters Home Improvement. Prior to that he was general manager at McCann Erickson with responsibilities for the agency’s day-to-day operations along with managing key accounts including MasterCard, Michael Hill Jeweller, Xbox and Intel. He has also worked as group account director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney.

Simon Rutherford, CEO at Slingshot said: “We pride ourselves on having the best talent and have invested significantly in bringing the very best to the agency across data and digital.

“Beyond delivering excellent strategic thinking, our clients work with us because we help them solve business problems, and data and digital are the keys to that success. Chris is the latest addition to our growing team and his specialist background working in these areas for some of the biggest brands in Australia will prove invaluable as we continue to grow. We’re delighted to have him on board to lead the team.”

Johnston added: “The pace of change in our industry is an opportunity for all of us to redefine the agency model and deliver greater value than ever before to our clients. Not content with what they have already achieved, the Slingshot management team have a clear vision for the future and a commitment to do what it takes to get there. I’m excited by the opportunity to build on the great work that they’ve done by evolving the digital offering and to further embed data and analytics into every aspect of what we do across the agency.”

His appointment follows the hire of former PHD global business director Angela Feruglio as general manager of Slingshot’s Melbourne office.

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