NZME boosts leadership with strategic new hires

AUCKLAND, Today: Following the launch of its new sales division, New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) has announced several senior sales appointments, strengthening its focus on independent agencies and client solutions.

Gareth McDonald has been promoted to GM, Independent Agencies, where he’ll lead commercial strategy and drive NZME’s partnership with Independent Media Agencies New Zealand (IMANZ).

McDonald shared, “I’m hugely excited about this opportunity to accelerate our IMANZ offering to the market. NZME’s investment into this new sales function is testament to the incredible work and results we have been achieving with our independent agency partners.”

Greg McCrea, NZME Commercial Director – Agency and Strategic Accounts, added, “Gareth is a class act and has demonstrated a proven ability to produce exceptional business results for our valued independent agency partners.”

“I’m thrilled to be returning to NZME and excited to join such a talented team. I’m looking forward to leveraging my skills and experience to drive commercial growth for both NZME and its partners.” – Louise Colenbrander

Respected client solutions strategist Louise Colenbrander also joins as Client Solutions Director, focusing on independent agencies and strategic accounts, bringing a unique approach to customer strategy solutions.

Colenbrander expressed, “I’m thrilled to be returning to NZME and excited to join such a talented team. I’m looking forward to leveraging my skills and experience to drive commercial growth for both NZME and its partners.”

Jas Gierlinski will soon join NZME as Group Account Director, overseeing relationships with large agency partners, bringing nearly two decades of media experience across the UK and New Zealand markets.

Gierlinski says, “I’m delighted to be joining the team at NZME, a business that I’ve had huge respect for and have enjoyed working with for many years. NZME’s commercial team is one of the most admired in the country, and I’m looking forward to using my skills and experience to further cement the excellent work they’re doing across the media industry.”

Greg McCrea emphasised, “These appointments demonstrate NZME’s absolute commitment to providing our agency and client partners with best-in-market solutions and outcomes for their business.”

All appointments are effective from 1 October 2024.