Bastion has appointed former PHD investment chief Joanna Barnes as executive media director.
Bastion said Barnes’ appointment further strengthens its growing media offering as it continues in a period of significant momentum.
Barnes joins Bastion at a pivotal time, with the agency’s media capability still in its first year following its launch in July.
Barnes had been with PHD for some 11 years. She rose from an investment director to chief media partnerships officer, which she held for two years.
“After 11 years, I’m grateful for the opportunities to have achieved and learnt so much. Thank you to my PHD team (including those from the past) – you will always be people I admire, respect and will always look out for,” Barnes wrote in a LinkedIn post about her departure.
Anna Cherry, managing director Australasia, Media at Bastion, said the appointment reflects both the ambition of the media offering and the pace at which it is scaling.
“Jo joins us at an incredibly exciting moment. In less than a year, we’ve built a media proposition that is already delivering meaningful commercial impact for clients, as seen through recent wins like Raw C and Geely. Jo’s ability to unlock new revenue and growth opportunities will be instrumental as we continue to scale, putting our clients in a position of strength,” said Cherry.
Barnes said Bastion’s integrated offering and momentum made the opportunity compelling.
“Bastion has built something genuinely differentiated in market in a very short period of time,” said Barnes.
“The integrated consultancy offering, combined with a clear focus on outcomes, creates real opportunity for clients. I’m excited to join at this stage of growth, the collaboration and speed at which decisions are made is energising and puts our clients and ourselves in a position of strength. The team here are fantastic and being able to work with Anna and Cheuk again is a real highlight – The possibilities are endless.”
The appointment follows the recent announcement of Alicia Tutty, media partner in Wellington and a broader period of expansion for Bastion, including new business momentum, capability launches and senior hires across Australia and internationally, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s leading marketing and communications groups.
