McCann Worldgroup Australia continues digital drive with key appointments in Syd & Melb offices

McCann Worldgroup Australia is continuing to bolster its digital skills with senior appointments in its Sydney and Melbourne offices.

In Sydney, Justine Marino (pictured with Joe Hawkins) joins as head of digital, working across all clients. Marino started life ‘client-side’ working for some heavy-hitting technology companies including Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, before making the transition to agency life in 2000. A self-confessed geek, she spent the first eight years on agency-side as one of the original team members of boutique digital agency Clear Blue Day.

Since then she has worked across a portfolio of agencies under the STW Group, lent a hand at some of Australia’s fastest growing digital agencies and even notched up a stint at DDB. She has helped create and deliver digital solutions for a range of clients, including Telstra, Subaru, Sunbeam, NRMA Motoring Services, Diageo, Pioneer Electronics, Kitchen Connection, Macquarie Bank, CommSec, Moet-Hennessy, Mission Australia and Anglicare.

In addition, award-winning creative Joe Hawkins is joining McCann Sydney in an associate creative director role following more than five years overseas, having spent the past year at digital hotshop R/GA Singapore and a four-year stint at DDB Auckland. Prior to this, Hawkins was writing up a storm at Gatecrasher Perth.

Hawkins’ awards cabinet boasts medal from all major award shows, including Cannes, One Show, D&AD, LIA, Adfest, AWARD and Axis, and he’s worked with a diverse range of clients in both a traditional and digital capacity.

At R/GA, he worked on digital projects for Rip Curl, Wateraid, Mastercard and Unilever (Rexona), while at DDB he tackled work for SKY TV, Cadbury, McDonald’s, Stella Artois, The Warehouse and National Foundation for the Deaf.

In Melbourne, Rod Leviton joins the MRM team as front end web developer following more than four years as head of digital media at Struck & Spink.

Leviton has a passion for everything web, with a special fondness for new technologies – especially responsive design techniques using jQuery and CSS animations.

He has experience in planning and executing many web-based projects, as well as TVCs.

In his new role, Leviton will lead front-end development and help expand MRM Australia’s technical infrastructures.

MRM is McCann Worldgroup’s digital and CRM marketing solutions arm, operating in 34 offices across 25 countries.

Says Ben Lilley, McCann Worldgroup CEO: “We are excited about the continued and rapid growth of MRM in Australia since its launch in February, and Rod is another key part of its ongoing expansion. The appointment of Justine and Joe also reflects the success and growth of the digital side of our business as we continue to build on our world-class team of creative, strategic and technical digital specialists.

“Our focus continues to be on appointing first-rate talent as the reinvention of McCann as a progressive digitally focused agency takes shape. With Justine, Joe and Rod, we have added another killer combination of skills.”