From 1 June 2004 Starcom New Zealand part of media specialist agency Starcom MediaVest Group will assume responsibility for Saatchi & Saatchi’s media departments in New Zealand. All of the Saatchi & Saatchi media team will transfer to the new agency which will be managed as a fully-integrated, but independently run operation.

Former Colenso, Mojo and McCann Erickson media head, Paul Maher is returning to New Zealand to take on the mantle of CEO. Since 2002 Maher has been the CEO for Starcom MediaVest Group in Canada. Alistair Jamison the formerly media director at Saatchi & Saatchi will be the new GM of Starcom New Zealand. Alistair will have strategic oversight of the critical Customer Insights part of Starcom’s service offering.

Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Andrew Stone was quoted in a company release saying that this is an important strategic move to increase the value of the agency’s service offering to New Zealand clients. “Our clients now have access to not only the best creative services, but exposure to leading edge international thinking in media strategy and buying.

“Starcom will help us keep our clients up-to-date with the latest global knowledge, strategies and resources for building strong and meaningful connections with their customers.” Starcom Group director Kevin Malloy who will oversee Starcom’s New Zealand and Australian operations says that in the global context of fragmenting markets, technology developments and new media channels, Starcom encourage their clients to move beyond the traditional media metrics. It also offers new measurement tools and a research orientation focussed on strategic planning and a more effective return on client investment.

Malloy added that Starcom New Zealand will be closely linked with the number one ranked Australian operation to ensure a strong trans-Tasman offering. “Over the next 12 months we will concentrate on providing Saatchi & Saatchi clients with the benefits of being linked with the latest international thinking and tools. Clients will continue to be served by their dedicated team but will gain from greater consumer insights and our world class resources.”

The Starcom MediaVest Group has 136 offices in 77 countries and manages over $18 billion of advertising revenue every year. Its clients include P&G, Coca-Cola, General Motors, McDonalds and Kraft.