Starcom Australia CEO Toby Barbour has today announced a raft of new roles and promotions to the agency’s national leadership team, including the promotion of national strategy director Graeme Wood (feature image) to the new role of national head of futures and product; while Nancy Lan, previously national commercial partnerships director, has been charged with leading the Sydney office in the new role of managing director, Sydney.

Barbour said: “As the Human Experience Company, our focus is on understanding the new customer desire and brand need in a world of accelerated change and choice.

“Our strong performance in 2018 has created real momentum.

“As people experts, we are now positioned to amplify our value creation for clients, acting as part consumer behavioural science experts, customer experience specialists and brand storytellers.

“Our approach is testament to our commitment to delivering measurable value for our clients and strong return on experience.

“In further support of this, I am pleased to announce changes to our National Brand Leadership Team as we accelerate our transformation from media to business partner”.

Last year, Starcom, part of the Publicis Media group of agencies, welcomed a number of new business partnerships, including Procter & Gamble, Football Federation of Australia, and also retaining Snooze following a competitive pitch.

Effective immediately, changes to the leadership team include:

Graeme Wood – National Head of Futures & Product

This new role and function is a significant initiative aimed at delivering on the agency’s focus on providing people-based marketing solutions for clients; while also being at the forefront of new industry, and behavioural and human thinking.

Wood’s focus will be to lead ‘Starcom Futures’.

Previously known as the ‘Starcom Media Futures’, it has been developed to become an always on thought leadership platform, proprietary research, external brand perception and growing data, measurement, content and commerce revenue.

Sally Christian – National Head of Strategy

Taking over Graeme Wood’s role, Sally Christian will lead the strategy team and work with business directors to develop client business growth, and communication strategies that drive both business and human outcomes. Christian previously led the Suncorp strategy team.

Sev Griffiths – National Commercial Partnerships Director

Sev Griffiths, who has been contracting for Starcom, joins as national commercial partnerships director. Griffiths plays an integral role in connecting investment and client business teams to optimise business planning and commercial value for the agency.

Nancy Lan – Managing Director Sydney

Previously national commercial partnerships director, Nancy Lan will now lead Starcom Sydney, responsible for business performance, clients, talent and culture.