McCann Group New Zealand has appointed Zac Stephenson as managing director, media and has also promoted Terri Collier to the newly created group role of chief client officer.
Effective March 9, Stephenson will partner Collier, leading McCann Group NZ’s media business (formerly FCB Media). Together, they will set the strategic and commercial direction to deliver impactful, insight-led media solutions across the group’s client portfolio.
Working closely with creative, strategy and network partners, they will continue to build on client relationships, drive sustainable growth and champion innovative, future-focused media thinking.
Client-centricity
Collier’s role places client-centricity at the heart of McCann’s end-to-end operating model. It will connect creative, media and specialist capabilities across the Omnicom network. This ensures clients have seamless, accountable access to the full breadth of expertise across data, martech, commerce and earned media.
Under her leadership at FCB Media, Collier has overseen some of the agency’s most significant client partnerships, driving deeper integration and long-term growth. She led the successful pitch and onboarding of the Vodafone media account in 2022. She also supported the brand’s transition to One NZ. Since then, she has expanded the remit beyond media into advanced analytics and creative collaboration, and continues to evolve the partnership into a broader, AI-enabled model.
Collier has also played a key role in strengthening the agency’s 46-year partnership with Mitre 10. She has supported the brand’s digital and data evolution, while protecting the fundamentals that have made it New Zealand’s longest-standing agency relationship.
A respected industry voice
Stephenson brings 26 years of experience across New Zealand and the UK, with a track record of leading major agency transformations, delivering award-winning media strategies and driving client growth across finance, entertainment, FMCG, QSR and retail.
Renowned for building high-performance cultures centred around outstanding client engagement, Stephenson blends strategic vision with creative execution.
A respected industry voice, he has shaped the broader media landscape through his involvement in the Commercial Communications Council Media and Beacons Steering Committees and has served as an executive judge for the Beacon Awards on several occasions.
A reunion for Stephenson and Collier
The appointments reunite Stephenson and Collier who have a proven track record of collaboration, previously working together at DDB. They bring an established working relationship, friendship and shared leadership philosophy to the next chapter of McCann’s growth.
Stephenson says: “It’s a hugely exciting time to be taking on this role. With the scale of the country’s largest marketing services business, an outstanding client roster and the strength of Omnicom behind us, we’re in a unique position to redefine what modern media partnership looks like in New Zealand.”
Collier adds: “This role has been shaped by what our clients need right now: less complexity, better integration and work that actually delivers.
“As chief client officer, my focus is helping them access the best of the Omnicom ecosystem across creative, media, data and analytics, marketing tech, earned and commerce, without the usual silos and handoffs that slow things down.
“I’m also genuinely excited to be working again with Zac as he steps into the MD role. Launching our new integrated media offering within the McCann Group is a big moment for us, and we’re focused on building a new model that’s properly joined up, future-ready and built for what clients are asking for next.”
McCann Group New Zealand co-CEO Paul Wilson says: “These appointments are about building a leadership team that reflects where we’re going as a business – more connected, more accountable and more ambitious for our clients. Terri and Zac bring proven chemistry and a shared vision for what integrated partnership should look like.”
The post McCann Group NZ announces new media leadership appeared first on stoppress.co.nz.