Mediaweek’s Media Movers charts the biggest people moves in the industry over the past week.
Man of Many taps Rob Stott as editor-in-chief
Australian men’s lifestyle publisher, Man of Many, has appointed Rob Stott as its new editor-in-chief.
Based in Sydney, Stott will be responsible for evolving Man of Many’s editorial voice and leading a major push into original video and audio content across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcast platforms, and emerging channels.
CarExpert New Zealand builds editorial team ahead of Kiwi launch
CarExpert New Zealand has announced its first editorial appointments ahead of its local launch next month, making the initial step in building a dedicated New Zealand team to deliver independent new-car coverage for Kiwi drivers.
Locals Matthew Hansen and Dave Kavermann will join CarExpert New Zealand’s on-the-ground editorial operation, bringing extensive motoring and media experience to the joint venture between Trade Me and CarExpert.
dentsu elevates Chris Ernst to lead national media practice
dentsu has appointed Chris Ernst as Chief Practice Officer – Media, Australia, tasking the long-time company leader with steering the group’s national media business through its next phase of integration and growth.
Football Australia appoints former Stan boss Martin Kugeler as CEO
Football Australia has appointed former Stan chief executive Martin Kugeler as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership reset as the sport heads into one of the most consequential periods in its modern history.
Sydney Zoo updates executive leadership to drive next growth phase
Sydney Zoo has announced a new executive leadership team, appointing Michael Kelly as CEO and Michelle Rowling as head of marketing, as the attraction enters a significant new phase of growth following its acquisition by Hammons Holdings.
Both appointments commenced in December 2025 and signal a renewed focus on visitation growth, immersive experiences and alignment with the broader Hammons Holdings tourism portfolio.
INVNT taps James Nicholas Kinney as global chief AI officer
INVNT has appointed James Nicholas Kinney as its first Global Chief AI Officer, formalising the agency’s push to embed artificial intelligence across every part of its global business, with a particular focus on APAC.
The newly created role is designed to accelerate AI-powered, client-facing solutions while expanding INVNT’s internal data, insights and tooling infrastructure.
Nift nabs Yahoo veteran John McNerney to head APAC expansion
Experience-led commerce media company Nift has appointed former Yahoo executive John McNerney as general manager, APAC, as it formally expands into Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Based in Sydney, McNerney will report to Nift’s chief revenue officer, Saket Mehta, and is tasked with launching and scaling the company’s platform across APAC, starting with Australia as its first regional market.
London Agency strengthens leadership with new commercial director and hires
London Agency has kicked off the year with a senior leadership reshuffle and two new appointments, as the specialist healthcare agency looks to build on a strong 2025 and accelerate growth across Australia, New Zealand and the broader APAC region.
The agency has promoted long-time public affairs lead Mathew Langdon to the newly created role of Commercial Director, while continuing to invest in its PR team with fresh hires to support an expanding healthcare and public affairs portfolio.
Yakkazoo appoints Felippe Diaz to drive growth and partnerships
Yakkazoo has strengthened its leadership bench, appointing industry veteran Felippe Diaz as Director of Strategic Partnerships & Growth, as the agency builds momentum following its recent relaunch.
The newly created role signals Yakkazoo’s ambitions to accelerate growth and expand its experiential footprint across Asia-Pacific, at a time when brands are leaning harder into live, immersive experiences that can deliver both cut-through and measurable results.
Nielsen appoints Matty Lin as APAC regional sales leader
Nielsen has appointed Matty Lin as APAC regional sales leader, bolstering its commercial leadership across one of its fastest-evolving global markets.
Based in Singapore, Lin joins Nielsen’s Commercial Organization from TikTok/Bytedance, where he most recently served as general manager of global business solutions for Southeast Asia and South Korea.
Blue Ant Rights builds global sales leadership across APAC and the Americas
Blue Ant Rights, the distribution arm of Blue Ant Studios, has announced a series of senior promotions and a new appointment across its Americas and Asia-Pacific sales teams, as the company continues to scale its global distribution business.
The leadership changes come amid strong growth momentum for the company, driven by an expanding content portfolio, broader genre mix and increasing demand for premium programming across platforms and territories worldwide.
VML ANZ appoints Paul Bradbury as CEO as Tom Tearle steps away
VML Australia and New Zealand has confirmed a major leadership transition, appointing former TBWA Australia and New Zealand boss Paul Bradbury as its new CEO, as long-time leader Tom Tearle concludes nearly five years at the helm.
Bradbury steps into the role effective immediately, with the pair working together over the coming weeks to ensure continuity for staff and clients across the network’s six ANZ offices.
Bench Media elevates senior team with Nicole Jurke and Ting Zhang
Full-service media agency Bench Media has announced two senior promotions, reinforcing its focus on leadership, culture and operational rigour as the business looks to support long-term client success.
The promotions see Nicole Jurke elevated to head of people and culture, joining the agency’s management team, while Ting Zhang steps into the role of financial controller. Both appointments take effect immediately.
Matt White returns to 7NEWS sports line-up
The Seven Network has confirmed the return of veteran broadcaster Matt White, marking a homecoming ahead of what the network is positioning as a major year for sport in 2026.
White rejoins Seven Network in a new cross-platform role spanning 7NEWS Sydney and 7SPORT, following more than a decade away from the network where he previously became a familiar face to Australian audiences.
NLA appoints Priya Kanniappan as Sydney CMO
Novated Lease Australia (NLA) has appointed Priya Kanniappan as CMO to lead the company’s marketing strategy.
She joins with more than 13 years’ experience in brand transformation, growth marketing and customer acquisition, having held senior leadership roles at carsales, Eventbrite and Easy Weddings.
Wasserman expands Australia footprint and revamps senior leadership
Global sports, music and entertainment heavyweight Wasserman has stepped up its commitment to the Australian market, unveiling a new Sydney headquarters, a high-profile partnership tied to the Australian Open, and fresh senior leadership on the ground.
To support its expansion, Wasserman has appointed Nick Hudson as Vice President, returning to Australia after eight years in the agency’s New York office.