Quantcast lures McCann Australia GM Nicole Gardner to head of account management role

Quantcast has announced the appointment of two senior hires in the Sydney office, following a period of significant growth for the AI technology company.

Nicole Gardner joins Quantcast in the newly created role of head of account management. Prior to Quantcast, Gardner was general manager at McCann Australia, where she spent five and a half years. She has more than 16 years’ experience in the advertising industry, working with several global agency networks, including Lowe Lintas, Kindred and Smart, in Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland and London.

Reporting to managing director APAC, Andrew Double, she will oversee Quantcast’s high performing team in managing clients, seeking out new client opportunities and developing partnerships.

Among her achievements, Gardner was part of the team that built DHA as an investment brand, and she worked with Microsoft to drive uptake of Windows 10 and Surface. With degrees in Business and Communications, Gardner has extensive experience across a broad range of brand categories including FMCG, finance, retail, travel, fashion, technology and healthcare.

Rachael Townsley also joins Quantcast as head of marketing APAC, leading marketing and communications across the rapidly expanding Asia-Pacific region. She reports to global head of corporate marketing Cathy Novelli.

Townsley joins Quantcast from Pandora where she was head of trade marketing and communications. She has 10 years’ experience in the industry, starting her marketing career with some of the world’s biggest entertainment brands including The Walt Disney Company and NBC Universal in London. Townsley has also worked with ITV as marketing and brand manager before moving to Australia to join Southern Cross Austereo as national trade marketing manager.

Says Double: “We’ve had considerable growth across the market over the last three and a half years and, with this new structure, I am convinced we have attracted the right people to help us reach the next stage in our development.

“Nicole’s new role was created to ensure we maintain our best-in-market service levels and help our clients grow their businesses. Her background of running big teams and startups is perfect. Having come from agency side she is well versed in the challenges our agencies and clients are facing.  Rachael has a great marketing pedigree and her skills will help us drive industry understanding of the Quantcast offer and what we stand for. We are entering a world of AI and insights and not many companies can say they have been doing that for the past 11 years. I believe Rachael is the right person to drive this message forward across the APAC region.”

Says Gardner: “I am thrilled to be joining Quantcast at a very exciting time in its development as the real capabilities of AI and its ability to connect brands with audiences is coming to the fore. I look forward to working with a great team and bringing my skills and experience to clients.”

Says Townsley: “The growth of Quantcast in the Asia Pacific region, particularly the recent expansion into seven new Asian markets, brings with it some great marketing opportunities to not only grow awareness of Quantcast but also understanding of what the business stands for and our offering and expertise.”