Soul Mates

AUCKLAND, Today: Mates Agency, an Auckland and Christchurch-based full-service brand strategy and design agency, has reshaped its leadership team.

The agency is internally promoting Holly Speer to co-general manager, a role she will share with Amber Ritchie, who joins Mates from Drum PR.

Mates founder Mimi Gilmour – the advertising-exec-turned-entrepreneur behind several hospitality businesses including Burger Burger, will continue as creative director, while also focusing on her soon-to-launch IAMMI (I am me!),“a pop-culture brand on a mission to help build personal resilience”.

Formerly the marketing manager of Burger Burger, Speer has been with Mates since its founding in 2019 and has been instrumental in growing it from a three-person business with two clients to a thriving agency working across both Auckland and Christchurch.

She is set to take maternity leave in the coming weeks, tapping into Mates’ supportive parenting policy as she welcomes her first baby.

“Mates’ clients include Sidehustle, Pita Pit, Sudima, Studio Box, Burger Burger, Sawmill Brewery, and Precinct Properties.”

“The last two years have been rather large but 2022 is shaping up to be the most epic year yet,” she says. “I feel incredibly supported by Mimi, Amber and the Mates team as I take these big steps in both my career and personal life.

“I know Amber will do an awesome job while I’m on maternity leave, and I can’t wait to work alongside her on my return.”

Ritchie is a PR specialist with a deep background in the local industry, having spent over a decade working at Britomart Hospitality (where she first met Mimi Gilmour), Mango and Drum.

“I’m pumped to join an innovative agency like Mates, which has an amazing roster of clients and an exceptionally creative and clever team,” she said.

“I’m passionate about continuing the exponential growth Holly and Mimi have driven and can’t wait to see what 2022 brings us.”

About Mates
Mates is so-named because, in addition to its core team of in-house creators and strategists, it contracts a roster of mates who are all very good at what they do. Mates specialises in social media, content and digital strategy, PR, marketing strategy, brand identity and positioning, graphic design, events, activations, web design and digital experiences. The agency’s clients include Sidehustle, Pita Pit, Sudima, Studio Box, Burger Burger, Sawmill Brewery, and Precinct Properties.

• matesagency.com