TLE Appoints New CEO for Global Expansion

In Australia, former Interbrand CEO Andy Bateman has joined insights consultancy The Leading Edge (TLE) as Global CEO, to drive international expansion plans which will commence with the opening of an office in New York.

Earlier this week, TLE's parent firm, marketing services group Photon, appointed former News Corporation executive Jeremy Philips as its new CEO.

Since its launch in 1990, TLE has grown to a business of four offices in Australia, Asia and Europe. The firm recently restructured its Sydney-based business with the return of overseas executives, internal promotions and the appointment of a new senior specialist.

Bateman joins with 21 years' expertise in understanding, building and re-building brands. Most recently, he led Interbrand in New York, where he helped double the brand agency's size by establishing a relationship-based approach and introducing new value added services.

Prior to this, Bateman was Worldwide Account Director at McCann Worldgroup, before which he held strategic planning roles across three continents - the UK and Europe for Publicis and WCRS; Australia and APAC for Rapp Collins/ DDB and Batey Kazoo; and the US for Publicis and JWT.

'It's rare to find a high-end practitioner who is a great leader,' said Nigel Long, Head of Photon's Strategic Intelligence Division. 'Andy has proven he can deliver globally and so will immediately add value to our existing operations, as well as lead the launch of TLE in the US.'

Bateman replaces, Mark Sundquist who resigned from the post last year, after 14 years with the company.

Web site: www.theleadingedge.com .