MediaCom Sydney promotes Helen Black to the role of CSO and James Sneddon to MD position

Acknowledging exceptional talent from within, MediaCom has today announced key appointments within Sydney; one of the largest single agency operations in Australia.

Key promotions and former positions include Helen Black, currently national head of strategy, as chief strategy officer, MediaCom Australia and James Sneddon, currently head of The Entertainment Division (TED), as managing director Sydney.

These announcements follow quite a turbulent period for MediaCom Australia. The key promotions made today by The Content + Connections Agency will bring fresh energy, focus and clarity to the agency’s operations both nationally and within its Sydney office.

Says Mark Heap, CEO MediaCom APAC and acting CEO MediaCom Australia: “We’re a young, dynamic, exciting industry, which is going through seismic change with the onset of digital, data and technology. We have injected our Sydney Leadership Team with bright, engaging, passionate leaders who are extremely inspiring and can motivate those around them. These people, along with the rest of the National Leadership Team will help propel our agency forward.”

Black joined the agency in May 2014, and since her tenure began has been an intrinsic and influential figure that has helped shape MediaCom as The Content + Connections Agency. A passionate strategist with proven credentials, Black also lead the successful national launch of the 20|20 Connections approach.

As part of the agency’s’ working model evolution, the definition of ‘strategy’ has been reviewed and expanded. MediaCom’s strategists need to be fully integrated into client teams throughout the agency and also have the ability to contribute, not only to campaign structure and ideation, but to lead and inspire conversations about how to use data, content and channels as strategic assets.

Within Blacks’ new remit, she will be responsible for leading the overall strategic product vision and output across Australia, and will also join the regional team of key product leaders to shape the future direction of the company across the region.

Says Black: “The way we define and shape strategies has changed just as much as every other discipline of communications; data meeting creativity meeting UX and so on. As such, it’s a privilege for me to lead MediaCom’s community of diverse and talented thinkers who together have a clear ambition; to create not only the most compelling, but also the most progressive, content and connections solutions for our clients. I am looking forward to exploring what these will look like in the future – one thing’s for sure, it will be exciting.”

Sneddon joined MediaCom in 2010 as group director, client communications planning, and has since developed to be an intrinsic individual within the agency. As part of his new role, he will be responsible to actively create and implement business strategy for the largest single agency operation in Australia. Since his tenure began within the agency, Sneddon has shown the passion, talent and ability to lead and inspire those around him and will continue to do so within his new role. Driving client relationships and working with the leadership team, he will ensure that the agency is delivering dynamic solutions on behalf of its clients.

Says Sneddon: “2015 has been a challenging year for GroupM Australia, it’s been well documented. There has been a lot of change and change creates uncertainty. I have learned more in the last 12 months than at any time in my career. This for me is about moving forward and getting back to what we do best which is challenging our competitors, delighting our clients and developing and inspiring the best talent in the market. I’m genuinely excited about the new dawn and the opportunities ahead for us as a business.”

Says Heap: “We are thrilled that we, as an agency, can recognise and promote exceptional talent from within. Our leadership team is filled with talented, passionate individuals, whom collectively, have progressive mindsets that will ensure our clients continue to receive world-class work.

“With more investments in senior talent being made in the coming months, 2016 is going to be an exciting year for all at MediaCom Australia.”