Colenso grows strategy department with three international hires

AUCKLAND, Thursday: Colenso BBDO’s strategy department has expanded its expertise with the hires of social strategy director Syd Hargis, senior strategist Megan Jones, and group strategy director Martin Bassot.

Hargis, returning home to NZ after a decade, helped Brit racing driver Lewis Hamilton develop, nurture and grow his global fan community – kickstarted by a real-time, global, fan-co-created film.

Hargis also helped shape Dyson’s streaming efforts across EMEA and led the fan-centric live streaming strategy of Oracle Red Bull’s F1 season launch to the global racing community last year.

She said: ”My passion is understanding how communities grow and develop, which allows me to help brands find authentic ways to add to the culture of the community rather than exploit it. I’m excited to dig in with Colenso’s clients and see what devilment I can bring.”

Megan Jones helped re-establish Levi’s Jeans and a nice top as the “ultimate combo” in a campaign with stars like Bridgerton’s Charitha Chandran. She also worked on Coke’s fashion strategy that resulted in Kate Moss appointed creative director of Diet Coke and on Lego’s Laundrette of Dreams – now in the London Design Museum.

Jones said:: “New Zealand is filled with all the things I love – netball, nature and last week, Harry Styles.

“I’d worked with Martin and Meg before so I had enough dirt on them to ensure they said yes.”

“To hit the ground running at Colenso, who almost immediately sent me to the Harry Styles concert for work is basically a dream come true. As a close second, Colenso is also filled with super talented people who I can’t wait to get into it with, oh yeah, and Rob.”

Martin Bassot arrives from Wieden+Kennedy London. As a lead on Nike Europe, he helped them make a kid’s imaginary sport for real, and celebrate England Women’s European football glory. He also worked on the  relaunch of Sainsbury’s and the launch of Revolut.

Bassot said: “What with everyone in the UK on strike (for good reason), chocolate digestives costing £2 and Harry Kane missing pens, it felt like adventure was calling me to New Zealand and Colenso. And my first few weeks certainly haven’t disappointed”

Colenso BBDO CSO Rob Campbell said: “I see new hires as an opportunity to add people’s different experiences, contexts, approaches and opinions to teams and see what new stuff it can create.

“We also look for people with global perspectives – partly because of all the global work we’re now doing and partly to make sure we’re a beacon for the weird and provocative stuff.

“Not only is that where culture is made, NZ youth increasingly judge life by global standards, not local.

“I’d worked with Martin and Meg before so I had enough dirt on them to ensure they said yes. Syd had me the moment they showed me their knuckles with KNOW ZERO tattooed on them … and as mic-drop moments go, that’s pretty unbeatable.”