iris Sydney expands senior management team; promotes David Griffiths to managing director

Following a year of client success and agency growth in Australia and across Asia in 2016, iris Sydney is expanding its management team to ensure it can be the best partner for clients and employer for staff in the country.  

After joining iris in August 2011 and over the last year being responsible for growing iris’ Samsung business in Australia, David Griffiths (left) will be taking on the role of managing director. 

Following a year of success on Samsung, including the Rethink Role Models campaign created for the brand’s sponsorship of Netball Australia, Griffiths will take on a wider remit for clients across the agency including adidas, Chang beer, Fiji Airways and Philips. He will also be responsible for diversifying and deepening iris’ skills and capabilities in the market, specifically in sports and content marketing, and driving the agency’s growth in Sydney. 

Previous MD Penny Dixon (left) has been promoted to a wider regional role as head of talent for Asia-Pacific.  In her four years as MD for the Sydney office, Dixon has overseen the development of the agency in growing income by 68% and doubling in size, which resulted in a move to bigger office digs in Harrington St, and steering the agency through its busiest and most profitable year in 2016.  In the new role, Dixon will work across all iris offices in APAC, to build and support a next generation of leaders and develop initiatives aimed at attracting and nurturing the best talent to the agency.

Says Ian Millner, CEO, iris: “David is an incredibly ambitious and motivated professional, with incredible standards and one that goes above and beyond for clients. Without this passion, there is no way we can possibly continue to grow a truly successful creative business in Australia.

“I believe iris is now starting to emerge as a genuine partner to help clients think and act in a much more progressive and innovative way at scale…. while staying close to the trends, insights and issues that affect their customers locally.”

Earlier this year, iris appointed Jon Kelly to the position of creative director, and Celia Garforth as planning director as part of an investment in the best people.

Christine Mills, previously new business director will take on a wider regional role from Sydney, as APAC CMO to lead new business and marketing strategy for Asia and Australia.

The agency is also investing in iris Concise in Sydney and across the APAC region.  Concise, the networks insight, CRM and consulting arm, delivers delivering deep consumer insights, market leading analytics and commercial rigour for clients.