Hello Melbourne

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: NZ’s Special Group has launched its third office, in Melbourne, and hired Paige Prettyman into the newly created role of general manager, Melbourne. 

Prettyman joins Melbourne founding partner Rebecca Stambanis, who’s been working with Special Group Australia since returning from an 11-year stint in the USA. 

Stambanis has an impressive c/v: She was global group strategy director at Wieden+Kennedy in Portland Oregon, global chief strategy officer at TBWA/Media Arts Lab in LA and the group strategy director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco. She has worked with Nike, Apple, Uber Eats, and Nintendo.

“It’s a long way from a start-up in Kingsland 12 years ago, to 120 staff over three locations.”

Both will work with the broader team to grow Special Group’s Melbourne offering, which includes locally based clients Cub and Bonds.

Special’s Auckland-based  ceo/CCO/founder Tony Bradbourne said: “We opened Special Group Sydney six years ago, something no other New Zealand agency has ever achieved before, and it has grown from strength to strength.

“It’s a long way from a start-up in Kingsland 12 years ago, to 120 staff over three locations working on some of the world biggest and most ambitious brands.

“Lindsey, Cade, Dave, Tom and Julian are brilliant partners, and are creating some truly amazing work. Melbourne is the next natural step.