Claxon has welcomed the appointment of Danny Molyneux as chief strategy officer after more than four years with The Media Store.
Molyneux spoke to Mediaweek about stepping into the new role with the integrated growth agency, developing strategy, and taking on the challenging economic ahead.
Molyneux on joining Claxon and stepping up chief strategy officer
Molyneux explained that a combination of factors, from culture to capability, attracted him to the role at Claxon.
As chief strategy officer, he will drive momentum by helping to formulate, facilitate and communicate the long-term vision for the agency, our employees, and our clients. “To me, this means prioritising initiatives correctly and ensuring ownership and accountability to achieve progress and success,” he said.
Molyneux will work closely with Daniel Willis, Claxon CEO, whom he lauded for his wealth of business experience and vision for the agency, establishing it as a digital growth agency that is the true definition of full service.
“Through offering creative, media, experience, and data under one roof, Claxon is an agency that puts the client first, enabling us to deliver performance and value simultaneously,” he said.
“I am excited to draw on my experience and build on the solid foundations already in place,” he added.
Keeping up with change and future-proofing Claxon
With solid strategy foundations at Claxon, Molyneux shared that it will provide the perfect springboard for accelerated growth.
“If there’s anything the last few years have taught us, it’s that the only constant is change,” he said.
“My focus is to develop future-proof processes and introduce new tools and technology that will continuously improve our agency product to keep us ahead of the curve and smarter than our competition,” Molyneux added.
Taking on the forecasted economic challenges ahead
With economic challenges forecast, Molyneux shared that throughout his years in the industry, he has observed the purse strings tighten for clients and their consumers during challenging economic periods.
In guiding Claxon, he said: “Agency consolidation can be key to reducing expenses and increasing efficiency. For clients utilising different agencies for multiple services, long-term commercial viability becomes too complex to assess.”
Molyneux noted that the agency’s capabilities span brand and performance, creative and content, data analytics and insights, UX and CX and more. “By offering a comprehensive suite of capabilities, we can service clients in a way that maximises the results they get from their investment,” he said.
“I believe, for our clients, this agency model positions Claxon as a true business partner, enabling us to be an extension of the team, future-proofing their business, working together to deliver a strong value proposition,” he added.
Molyneux on the year ahead
When asked about his forecast for the agency and his role with them, Molyneux said Claxon’s 2023 roadmap would be focused on growth.
“Not only do we have our HQ on the Gold Coast, but we are also expanding our footprint nationwide and internationally.
“The Claxon SLT and I will continue to lay down the plans and vision for Claxon far beyond 2023. I’m excited to set the wheels in motion and kick goals with the amazing team we have,” Molyneux added.
Willis on Molyneux’s appointment and the agency in the year ahead
Claxon chairman and CEO Daniel Willis welcomed Molyneux’s appointment, who he said brings the agency a blend of technical capability, experience, and maturity.
“He’s very commercial in his thinking, and I’m looking forward to the value that will bring to our clients and the agency as a whole.
“We’re already integrating AI at an exceptionally quick pace within the fibre of our day-to-day, and having someone with Danny’s love of innovation, tech, and data join us only serves to further accelerate that focus,” Willis added.
Daniel Willis
Looking to the year ahead, Willis shared that outlook looks “bigger and better” for the agency.
“After completing the transition to integrated growth agency from pureplay performance marketing about 12 months ago, we’ve continued to win bigger, better, and more meaningful work.
“Further geographic expansion in Melbourne, London and LA are a big focus, as is acquisition, however underpinning everything is the desire to do great work, executed by great people, within a great culture,” Willis added.
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Top image: Danny Molyneux