UM Australia has hired Luke Middlemiss as the agency’s new head of brand and new business, and is another major hire under new boss Stevie Douglas-Neal.
Middlemiss most recently worked at fintech company AfterPay, where he was the senior manager of media until his role was made redundant earlier this year.
He has also held senior roles at social media platform WeAre8, where he was the global head of marketing, and worked at Nine for nearly a decade, rising to head of media and campaigns.
At UM, he has been tasked with strengthening UM’s market profile, deepening client and partner relationships, and driving our new business momentum.
“Brands are operating in an increasingly complex environment where growth, reputation and customer experience are more connected than ever. We created this role because we believe agencies need stronger leadership at the intersection of brand strategy, commercial growth and market opportunity,” Douglas-Neal told B&T.
“Luke brings a rare combination of strategic brand expertise and growth mindset. His remit is to help us sharpen our own proposition and accelerate new business growth. As we continue to evolve our offer, having senior leadership focused on both brand and growth is a critical investment in our future.”
Middlemiss said he is thrilled to be joining Stevie and the UM team.
“The focus on being a transformative partner to clients and driving meaningful growth is exactly why I wanted to be part of this,” Middlemiss said.
“I’ve spent my career at the intersection of brand, media and commercial growth, and I’m looking forward to helping strengthen UM’s presence in market and continuing to drive that momentum.”
UM, which joined Omnicom Media last November following Omnicom’s takeover of IPG Mediabrands, works with major clients including the Australian Government, American Express, Kmart and Target.
This year, the agency has hired new managing directors for Sydney (Jessica Laurie) and Melbourne (Sarah O’Leary).
