The Leading Edge appoints senior Futurebrand executive as Sydney managing director

Australia’s leading research and strategy consultancy, The Leading Edge, continues to attract senior industry talent from Asia and Australia.

The fast growing agency today announced the high-profile appointment of Singapore-based Futurebrand chief growth officer, Tim Riches, to become managing director of The Leading Edge’s Sydney office.

Riches joined Futurebrand in 1999 as a strategy director with the Melbourne office and was managing director of the company in Australia for six years. His more recent appointment was Singapore-based CEO and Asia Pacific Chief Growth Officer for the Interpublic Group company.

During his 12 years with Futurebrand, Tim led major brandingassignments for BHP Billiton, GPT, Tourism Australia, Yellow Pages,Hayman Island, Coles Group, Cricket Australia, Swinburne University,Freehills, Unilever Ice-cream, Crown Casino in Melbourne and Macau andAustralia’s bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Leading Edge chief executive officer Andy Bateman said, “Ourgrowing client base will benefit enormously from Tim’s high-levelstrategic global branding and strategy expertise. Tim brings with him awealth of experience in both his native Australia as well as many ofthe fast growing economies and cultures across Asia Pacific that are socrucial to many of our client’s growth ambitions. As well as being anexperienced operator and business leader, Tim is also an energetic,fresh and challenging thinker – so he fits right in with our refreshedleadership team here!”

Mr Riches has degrees in law and philosophy, with postgraduatequalifications in marketing and has held the position of AdjunctProfessor to the Faculty of Design at Swinburne University inMelbourne. He is a frequent conference presenter and commentator inmedia on matters relating to brand. Riches is also a judge of the 2011Asian Marketing Effectiveness Festival.