Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Katie Rigg-Smith
Katie Rigg-Smith, WPP ANZ chief strategy officer, will depart WPP after 26 years with the global media company.
In an internal staff email seen by Mediaweek, Rose Herceg, WPP country president of Australia and New Zealand, commended the now outgoing WPP ANZ chief strategy officer for her contributions to the company and its brands over the decades.
Rigg-Smith recalled her career journey with the Group: “I was straight out of university when I started and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the adventures that would await me for the next 26 years. It has been an absolute blast and I have loved every minute of it.
Que Minh Luu, Netflix’s director of content for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), has announced her departure after five years with the streaming giant.
Her exit comes at a critical moment for the local screen industry, which faces ongoing debate over content quotas and levies for streamers, while producers warn of diminishing commissioning and production levels.
In a statement to C21 Media, Minh Luu expressed pride in her tenure: “I’m incredibly proud of the past five years, setting up the team and slate and commissioning award-winning and loved shows.
“It’s been a privilege to help shape Australian stories on Netflix, and while I’m stepping aside, I’m excited to continue working as a creative consultant exclusively for Netflix.”
oOh!media has announced Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cathy O’Connor, will step down in the second half of 2025.
After leading the company for more than four years, O’Connor and the Board have agreed that with the company performing strongly, it is the right time to hand over to new leadership for the next phase of growth.
Guill Rodas has been appointed as R/GA Chief Technology Officer for APAC.
He will work alongside Ben Miles, Chief Design Officer, APAC, to shape brand experiences for the intelligence era. He will also unify the agency’s technology practice across Southeast Asia, North Asia, and Australia, establishing a new model for tech-enabled creative innovation.
Amanda Laing has officially returned to Nine, taking on the newly created role of Managing Director for its Streaming and Broadcast division. Most recently, she was chief commercial and content officer at Foxtel Group and managing director at Binge.
Mediaweek had reported Laing’s impending move back to Nine in January, with her appointment set to bring together Stan, 9Now, Broadcast Television, and Radio, as the group accelerates its strategic transformation with an operating model reset and a new executive team.
Amy Hoskin
Daily Mail Australia has announced the appointment of Amy Hoskin as Group Sales Manager, tasked with overseeing commercial operations across Melbourne and the Southern States.
Hoskin will be based in Melbourne, leading the local sales team and focusing on revenue growth and strategic partnerships across both agency and direct client channels.
Triple M has announced the launch of two new Rush Hour Drive shows focused on delivering localised NRL coverage for New South Wales and Queensland, beginning Monday, 28 April.
The new shows, airing weekdays from 4pm to 6pm, represent a significant expansion for Triple M’s sport-focused programming and comes in the wake of the departure of broadcaster Marty Sheargold.
BBC Studios former Managing Director Australia Fiona Lang has announced her next career move, taking to LinkedIn to share that she will be joining Nielsen as Managing Director Australia, Television Audience Measurement.
Lang’s appointment follows her departure from the BBC last year, where she surprised staff during an “all hands” meeting in September 2024 by revealing she would be stepping down from her role.
Matt James
Nine has appointed Matt James as Chief Sales Officer. He will report to Chief Executive Officer, Matt Stanton.
James brings 35 years of experience and was previously been CEO of global media agency Zenith Media based in London, the inaugural Group CEO of Publicis Media, and CEO of Zenith Australia and New Zealand.
Porter Novelli has promoted Laura Hill to the newly created role of Managing Partner – Engagement.
Hill previously served as Special Counsel and brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of strategic engagement to this leadership position. Her appointment reflects the increasing demand for effective engagement across industries, as organisations navigate change and major reforms in sectors such as energy, aged care, health and education.
Tracey La Spina
Colony Group has appointed Tracey La Spina as Lead Strategist to oversee its portfolio, which includes Creative Outpost, Orange Digital, and Brand Acumen.
La Spina brings over 27 years of experience as a highly strategic business and marketing executive to the agency. She has developed marketing and growth strategies for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Disney and McDonald’s.
The Atticism has appointed Maven PR Founder Sophie Muir as Managing Director for the hospitality and urban lifestyle PR agency.
Muir will take on the day-to-day operations of The Atticism from the agency’s Sydney office, while Renae Smith, founder and CEO of The Atticism, will continue to lead global strategy and direction from The Atticism’s London base.