UM Australia promotes Sydney strategy director Sam Geer to the role of national strategy officer

UM Australia has announced the appointment of award-winning strategist Sam Geer (left) as national strategy officer. Geer has been Sydney strategy director of UM for the last 18 months and has been key to the agency’s major client work such as Coca-Cola and new business wins including Optus, Virgin Mobile and Lion.

In his new role Geer replaces Sophie Price, who resigned as UM’s chief strategy officer to join M&C Saatchi.

Says Danny Bass, CEO of IPG Mediabrands Australia, said Price had contributed greatly to the agency since joining in January 2015: “Sophie is a gifted professional who has given us so much in her time here and we wish her the best in her new role. She has been a very important leader for our product, people and our clients.”

As Geer takes UM’s national lead strategy role, he will be replaced as Sydney strategy director by Chris Colter (pictured above, right), a former global Cannes Young Lions and MFA Grand Prix winner for work on LEGO.

Says Geer: “I am looking forward to stepping up to the national role. Creative connections has developed into a powerful positioning and with the wider team we will be evolving the product with new power, infusing sharper market-leading data into our creative media solutions.”

Says Bass: “Sam Geer is a home-grown professional who is now among the smartest strategists I have worked with. UM has been a powerhouse over the past few years and with Sam heading up strategy the agency will undoubtedly continue to lead the industry in connections thinking and evolve our product for the future.”