Auckland
Martin O’Sullivan
Managing Partner, Auckland
Martin has had 16 years of experience in broadcast and interactive media. A bona fide globetrotter, Martin has managed a variety of projects and interactive agencies in Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Martin has specialist experience delivering internal and external communication tools for governments, Fortune 500 companies, museums and events companies, often working in conjunction with large multi-media campaigns.
He has worked with and advised clients such as UBS Warburg, HSBC, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co, Nike, Adidas, Nokia, Coca Cola, Ford, Ericcson, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Tourism New Zealand, Te Papa & Auckland Museums to name just a few.
Martin's exposure to these large organisations has given him a unique understanding of how to use a variety of traditional and emerging media to clearly communicate a business' message and core product offering.
martin.osullivan@strategy.co.nz
Gideon Keith
Creative Partner, Auckland
Gideon leads Strategy Auckland's creative team with confidence and expertise.
Gideon has been designing, implementing and maintaining brands for almost 25 years. He has spent 18 years running a business and leading creative teams with clients spanning New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the Pacific and USA.
Gideon has worked with a number of high profile organisations including Apple, Nescafe, Landrover and Woosh. His blend of business insight and creative strength enables him to build strong client relationships, many of which have lasted a decade or longer.
Gideon's creative excellence has been recognised with multiple design and advertising industry awards.
gideon.keith@strategy.co.nz
Christchurch
Cindy McEwan
Managing Partner, Christchurch
Cindy is passionate about bringing business strategy and creative innovation together. She has a talent for getting the best results from both ideas and people, with a penchant for skilled negotiation and an ability to build lasting relationships.
After completing her First Class Honours Degree in Journalism at the University of Canterbury, Cindy began her career in London rising quickly from Account Manager to Marketing Manager for Arcadia Group, the UK’s largest privately owned retailer. Returning to Christchurch, she joined Strategy as Client Services Director. This role, which lasted nine years, saw her sourcing new business and managing client design and advertising needs across all sectors and channels.
In 2010 Cindy moved client-side, joining Scenic Hotel Group's Senior Management Team as Group Marketing Manager. In 2013 Cindy rejoined Strategy as Christchurch Managing Partner, bringing a wealth of experience and a first-hand understanding of both agency and client needs.
cindy.mcewan@strategy.co.nz
Matt Hampton
Creative Partner, Christchurch
Matt is passionate about developing beautifully crafted and original ideas that sell.
Prior to joining Strategy, Matt was Creative Director at Colenso/Proximity which was ranked the world’s most awarded advertising agency in 2013. Matt’s work has been well recognised at multiple awards including international heavy hitters Cannes, Caples, Adfest, Webbys and The Echos, as well as local awards AXIS and the NZDM awards. A stickler for detail, his craft skills have been acknowledged with awards for Art Direction. He is involved in awards show judging and mentoring Axis Adschool students through CAANZ.
Matt brings a hunger for beautifully designed advertising ideas that truly make a difference to our client’s businesses.
matt.hampton@strategy.co.nz
Sydney
Steve White
Managing Partner, Sydney
Steve has spent his entire career working in and around the advertising and design industries, from the marketing department of an international software company, to Sydney's premier special effects company to a series of agencies where he worked through the ranks of client service.
Steve has been exposed to every facet of the marketing communications mix. As a former Senior Account Director he understands the importance of listening to clients and addressing their needs with dedicated and successful teams.
For eight years Steve ran his own integrated communications agency. Steve's versatility, commitment and interest in the marketing and communication business makes him an integral member of the Sydney office.
steve.white@strategydesign.com.au
Geoff Courtman
Design Director, Sydney
Geoff is a designer who knows what he wants and produces work that ensures that others invariably want it too.
Geoff’s passion for design started early on in Primary School when he would draw and redraw the Porsche emblem until perfect. After graduating with a degree in Visual Communications Design from Christchurch Polytechnic, Geoff joined Strategy for the first time as a Junior Designer in the New Zealand office.
Spreading his wings, he then worked in London for five years before returning home – almost. Geoff worked for Emery Frost in Melbourne as a Senior Designer until he was enticed back to the Strategy fold as Design Director in the Sydney office.
Geoff now has 15 year’s experience delivering meaningful and highly crafted brand identity and visual communications to his clients. His work has been awarded numerous accolades including both AGDA and NZ BEST Awards.
geoff.courtman@strategy.co.nz
Wellington
Mike Meachen
Managing Partner, Wellington
Mike joined Strategy in 2012 bringing over 30 years of experience ranging from advertising, marketing and management roles through to strategic and brand development work.
Mike's strategic input has helped to competitively differentiate and successfully position brands in categories as diverse as FMCG, NGO, professional services and consumer durables.
He has handled a wide range of well-known local and international brands as well as helping develop innovative new products and services. He has worked for many well known companies including Cadbury, Bluebird, Mobil, Beaurepaires, Panasonic, Qantas, The Office of the Ombudsman, Boulcott Private Hospital and two successful election campaigns – one each for National and Labour.
In addition to working with larger organisations and brands, Mike enjoys helping smaller companies and start-up enterprises to position and brand themselves by identifying and optimising their strategic opportunities.
mike.meachen@strategy.co.nz
Caspian Ievers
Design Director, Wellington
Caspian applies his considerable talents to overseeing and guiding the creative team in Wellington.
After gaining a Masters in Psychology in Aberdeen he emigrated to New Zealand, gained a diploma in graphic design, and began honing his creative and design skills working in some of the most respected design companies both here and in the UK, on clients such as British Gas, Icebreaker, NZ Post and Nike. He ran his own design studio and contracted to key design agencies before returning to the Strategy fold in 2011.
A perceptive and analytical thinker, Caspian’s insightful design approach is driven by his belief that every piece of work should engage and connect with its audience. This approach has helped drive the success of many a client.
caspian.ievers@strategy.co.nz
Strategy Group
Geoff Cranko
Group Managing Partner
Geoff has been developing and managing companies for an impressive 25 years. His career has seen him work on every continent leading teams of up to 1500 people.
Having run both large and small organisations, Geoff knows first hand the challenges that any business can bring. He believes that success comes through good relationships, and he understands the intricacies of business issues from corporate strategy to product and personnel development.
As Strategy’s Group Managing Partner, Geoff offers straight talking business experience to our clients. Geoff enjoys client interaction at the highest level, helping to provide clear thinking with regards to the strategy and direction of our clients' businesses.
Along with facilitating, managing and developing the growth of the Strategy Group of companies, Geoff sits on several boards of private companies. He is also a trustee for the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation and the International Busker's Festival.
geoff.cranko@strategy.co.nz
Mike Meachen
Group Strategic Director
Mike joined Strategy in 2012 bringing over 30 years of experience ranging from advertising, marketing and management roles with a strong focus on strategic and brand development work.
Mike's strategic input has helped to competitively differentiate and successfully position brands in categories as diverse as FMCG, NGO, professional services and consumer durables.
He has handled a wide range of well-known local and international brands as well as helping develop innovative new products and services. He has worked for many well known companies including Cadbury, Bluebird, Mobil, Beaurepaires, Panasonic, Qantas, The Office of the Ombudsman, Boulcott Private Hospital and two successful election campaigns – one each for National and Labour.
In addition to working with larger organisations and brands, Mike enjoys helping smaller companies and start-up enterprises to position and brand themselves by identifying and optimising their strategic opportunities.
mike.meachen@strategy.co.nz
Cushla Baggott
Group Media Director
Cushla is one of New Zealand's leading media specialists. She has worked in independent agencies for 15 years and has built and led media teams in New Zealand and overseas.
She has worked with over 100 clients in a diverse range of categories, including Tourism New Zealand, ANZ, Winstone Wallboards, Earthquake Commission, and Warner Music to name just a few. She has launched a number of brands into the New Zealand market including Dominos, Super Cheap Auto, Pacific Blue, Expedia and The Good Guys, and she has worked on three election campaigns in the last decade.
Cushla is a respected media strategist and has a penchant for negotiation. Her expertise spans all media channels – traditional and emerging, offline and online. She understands that business growth and results are achieved with innovative customer-led strategies. She disrupts the traditional principles and processes of media planning to create unique media strategies based on consumer insight.
Cushla regularly participates in industry leader consultation groups and is a judge of the CAANZ Media Awards.
cushla.baggott@strategy.co.nz
Ingrid Kerr
Group Finance Director
Ingrid Kerr brings to Strategy a wealth of commercial acumen as well as extensive experience in business modeling and analysis. Ingrid has successfully steered big and small companies through times of transition and risk.
In the UK, Ingrid worked for French defencegiant Thales and was responsible for a construction project with a budget of $250 million. Ingrid oversaw the winding down and financial integration of a subsidiary as well as the relocation of 2500 staff. In Sydney, Ingrid helmed Antarctic expedition company, Aurora Expeditions, through a period of currency free-fall and high exposure using careful risk analysis and bold risk-minimisation strategies.
Ingrid has also put her commercial acumen to work in the art world. She and three other women created V22, an art collection co-owned by artists and investor-patrons. When it was listed on the UK stock market, V22 became the first-ever publicly listed contemporary art collection.
ingrid.kerr@strategy.co.nz