Dentsu NZ launches Mktg Sport

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: Mktg Sports + Entertainment, dentsu’s global sports marketing agency, have launched Mktg New Zealand. This strategic move strengthens dentsu’s sports and brand marketing expertise in the ANZ region while aligning with established New Zealand sports talent management and brand activation leader, Halo Sport.

The newly formed Mktg New Zealand team will be headquartered in Auckland.

Mktg APAC MD, Matt Connell Matt Connell said: “With a successful track record in the Australian market, Mktg’s expansion into New Zealand aims to offer an extended portfolio of services, bolstered by market-leading creative, content, public relations, and analytics capabilities.

“The services encompass a wide range of offerings, including strategic sports consulting and management, stadium media and operations, in-game sports presentation, event production, sponsorship activation, sponsorship and commercial sales, and creative and content production.

“The establishment of Mktg in New Zealand signifies an important milestone in the evolution of our business, in the region.

“Equipped with formidable talent on the ground and the resources in the region and around the globe, Mktg NZ stands committed to delivering exceptional value and innovation to our current and future client partners and creating new career opportunities for our team.”

“Leading this endeavour locally will be Hannah Hickling, an accomplished executive from Halo Sport based in Auckland.”

Leading this endeavour locally will be Hannah Hickling, an accomplished executive from Halo Sport based in Auckland.

Hickling said: “In a dynamic market like New Zealand, there is a clear demand for a versatile and integrated sports marketing agency that combines expertise with innovation. Mktg NZ aims to expand on the strong foundation laid by Halo Sport, and enhance sports sponsorship consulting services and introduce new capabilities leveraging its Australian and global teams.

“Mktg NZ, coupled with the Australian team, is here to meet the opportunity by providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to the needs of our clients and the broader industry.

“This announcement also provides the pathway to formally introduce the intelligence of dentsu Sports Analytics to deliver global and hyper local insights to help the industry understand its fans, assess value and measure impact of sponsorship.

Halo Sport ceo Simon Porter said: “The launch, under Hannah’s leadership, signals a dynamic new chapter for this market.

“With the enhancement of our sports marketing services at dentsu NZ and to support both the existing business of Halo, we will now be able to offer a whole new set of capabilities to add new value to the New Zealand industry, whether that be for local rights holders, brands or talent.”

• mktg.com/au