MediaPLUS is your weekly update on all that matters in media and marketing
Former junior minister David Stanton and long-time trade unionist Bernard Harbour have joined Alice Public Relations.
The pair join former RTÉ newscaster Eileen Dunne and chair Dermot Ryan on Alice PR's team of expert advisors.
They will focus on providing high-level public affairs, stakeholder engagement and strategic counsel services to Alice clients.
Stanton served as Fine Gael TD for Cork East from 1997 until his retirement before last year's election, and was a Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality from 2016-2020.
Harbour is the former head of communications for the Fórsa trade union, and he has also worked with the trade union movement internationally.
He was director of communications and media for President Michael D. Higgins’ 2018 re-election campaign, and was a special advisor to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, between 2014 and 2016.
“Our focus at Alice is on creating positive change in Ireland and further afield. David and Bernard align perfectly with this goal. Combined, they have 60 years’ experience in politics, stakeholder engagement, campaigning, and strategic communications," said Martina Quinn, founder and CEO of Alice PR.
"They have contributed to the advancement of workers’ rights, migrants’ rights and Travellers’ rights, amongst other issues.
"Their extensive contacts, their deep political understanding, and their experience of strategic political campaigning will be of huge benefit to our clients, and we are delighted to have the join the team during an exciting time for the company, as we celebrate our tenth year in business this year.”
Verve launches full-service agency BITEMARK
Experiences agency Verve has moved into advertising with the launch of BITEMARK, a full-service agency designed to "leave an impression".
Verve described BITEMARK is a culture-driven creative agency that is "fearless in its creativity and loud in delivery," and its agile team produces "bold, sharp ideas that demand attention".
“Brands need more than just good advertising, they need advertising that makes it’s mark,” sayid Ronan Traynor, founder of Verve.
“BITEMARK was born from decades of us watching, understanding, and influencing cultural movements – from music and tech to art – and the social shifts which shape how people think and act.
"We’re already immersed where culture lives - in the crowds, on the streets and at the heart of the conversation.
Experiences agency Verve has moved into advertising with the launch of BITEMARK, a full-service agency designed to "leave an impression".
Verve described BITEMARK is a culture-driven creative agency that is "fearless in its creativity and loud in delivery," and its agile team produces "bold, sharp ideas that demand attention".
“Brands need more than just good advertising, they need advertising that makes it’s mark,” sayid Ronan Traynor, founder of Verve.
“BITEMARK was born from decades of us watching, understanding, and influencing cultural movements – from music and tech to art – and the social shifts which shape how people think and act.
"We’re already immersed where culture lives - in the crowds, on the streets and at the heart of the conversation.
"So why wouldn't we build an agency there? We’ve got the tools, the talent and the timing. Now we're ready to take a bite!"
BITEMARK will be led by creative director Robbie Field, who has a track record of more than a decade working in Dublin, London, Dusseldorf and New York for agencies such as Grey, BBDO, VaynerMedia and Lego.
“BITEMARK is built for sharpness. AI, remote collaboration, and the demand for ideas rooted in the moment give us a huge creative edge. We can compete anywhere, with anyone – and we like those odds," said Field.
Already engaging with a portfolio of brands, BITEMARK officially launches this month and combines the creative agility of a boutique agency with the trusted legacy of Verve’s 30+ years of market-leading experience in brand activation.
Ken Nolan appointed WPP Media Ireland COO
Ken Nolan has been appointed chief operating officer of WPP Media Ireland.
In the role, Nolan will have responsibility for the newly rebranded media company's agency brands, Mindshare, EssenceMediacom and Wavemaker.
Writing on LinkedIn, he said he would ensure WPP Media delivers "best-in-market offerings and consistency across all agency brands" to "unlock the true power of WPP for all our clients.
"This is more than a rebrand - it's a transformation. Here at WPP Media we are embracing the extraordinary."
Nolan joins WPP Media from Mindshare where he spent more than 17 years, serving most recently as chief operating officer with responsibility for day-to-day management of the company.
During his career, he has also held roles with Tricel and GT Media.
He graduated from what is now Munster Technological University in 2002 with a BCom in Business Studies (Marketing) and completed an MSc in Advertising at DIT.
RTÉ makes Ormond head of podcasting
RTÉ has appointed Hugh Ormond to the newly created role of head of podcasting following an internal competition.
Ormond will lead and shape the development of RTÉ's podcast strategy and oversee the production and distribution of podcasts across a wide range of genres, including news & current affairs, entertainment, sport, drama, Irish language and arts & culture.
Ormond will be the senior creative lead and have overall responsibility for the development and editorial management of RTÉ’s podcast portfolio.
He will also work closely with RTÉ’s audio, video and online teams of content creators across the organisation to anticipate changing audience needs and cultivate new opportunities.
Ormond has held senior roles across RTÉ, commercial broadcasting and the independent production sector, and has worked in current affairs, entertainment, documentaries, and comedy.
Most recently he served as editor RTÉ Investigates and Claire Byrne Live, and he was previously a series producer on some of RTE’s most prominent radio shows.
He also produced the satirical TV Series Irish Pictorial Weekly and was producer of the Breakfast Show with Eamon Dunphy on Newstalk.
It’s a great privilege to be appointed RTÉ’s first Head of Podcasting. This is an incredible job to take on at this point in RTÉ’s development," said Ormond of his appointment.
"Doc On One has led the way for RTÉ podcasting in recent years by producing a succession of world class audio series. We have a great opportunity now to build on this success by significantly increasing and broadening our podcasting offering.
"There are amazingly talented people across RTÉ and the independent sector, and I’m looking forward to working with them to grow our slate of podcasts.”
California approves expanded film and TV subsidies
Legislation to expand subsidies for film and television production in California has passed through the state Assembly and Senate
The bills would allow for more projects to apply for the Film & TV Tax Credit Program, including television series with episodes of longer than 20 minutes, animation, and large-scale competition shows.
California lawmakers previously removed references to expanding available funding for tax credits at the committee stage.
In October, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed increasing the annual cap on incentives from $330m to $750m, and he is still seeking to get the funding approved in the budget, which will be put to a vote on 15 June.
The bills propose increasing the available credit amount for an individual project from 20% to 35% for amounts paid or incurred in Los Angeles.
They also give California Film Commission leeway to allow for additional credit percentages by 5% in other areas of economic opportunity.
Take Back Control advert allows viewers to step into the shoes of the protagonist
Every week, Amárach and Future Proof Insights share exclusive findings from their PRIZM+ ad testing service, showcasing best practice creative advertising in Ireland.
He’s there when you least want him. Watching from the corner of the kitchen. Slamming on the pub window like a ghost only you can see. Whispering in your ear on the top deck of a bus.
It's your nicotine habit, embodied and emboldened in the HSE’s Take Back Control quit smoking campaign.
However, crucially, in this creative, this shadowy figure, the personification of addiction, doesn’t win.
This ad isn’t dramatic for drama’s sake.
It’s psychologically calibrated. It uses tension rather than trauma, suggestion over exposition.
The neuroscience shows that this approach works.
Engagement remains steady across the spot, especially in scenes of quiet conflict.
To read more about this advert, CLICK HERE.
