Carat has announced the appointment of Jim Groves as managing director of the media agency’s Perth office.

Groves will take the reins of Carat’s 50-plus strong team in Perth, with local clients including Rio Tinto, Cash Converters, Credit Union Australia, and the Western Australian government.

Acting MD Michelle Testa will resume her role as general manager of Carat in Perth.

Groves brings a wealth of local, national, and international experience to the role. Over the course of his 15-plus year career, he’s acquired a diverse skill set in marketing and communications leadership roles.

Most recently, he was the MD of WPP agency Geometry Global, and has also owned and operated an independent creative agency in Perth, Groves & Groves, since 2011.

Carat CEO Paul Brooks credited Grove’s transformative leadership as integral to his appointment as head of what is now one of the agency’s fastest growing offices.

“Carat’s proposition as an agency in Perth is evolving at pace. We’re looking to take our offering to the next level, and need a leader who can galvanise the considerable talent in the team and steer us toward that growth,” Brooks said.

“Jim has a great track record of doing just that, so we’re very excited to have him on board.

“Michelle has done a fantastic job leading the agency in the interim – they will no doubt make a great team.”

Commenting on his appointment, Groves said: “I am excited to be part of driving change and growth as we enter a new phase of the Dentsu Aegis journey.”