Added Value Australia MD Takes New Role

WPP firm Added Value has restructured its Australian management, creating the new role of Client Development Director for current MD Melissa Carey and moving Deputy MD James Pike into her MD role. The firm's Sydney staff are also relocating across the city.

The senior moves are effective immediately. Pike will focus on continuing the company's strong growth and team development; while Carey takes the new role of Client Development Director, as well as working with the agency's overseas offices to develop new service offerings in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Added Value, which is part of marketing and comms services group STW, itself part of WPP, will this week move in with other STW Group companies at Ogilvy House in north Sydney suburb St Leonards, from its current office in Sydney CBD.

Last week another STW Group research consultancy, AMR, opened a new office in Brisbane and expanded its teams in Sydney and Melbourne.

Pike, who has worked with Added Value for the past seven years, initially in UK and then Japan, says the changes will 'keep the business fresh and relevant' and build on its recent momentum. He adds: 'Mel has done an incredible job in building the team and a market-leading service offering, and I'm excited about the prospect of taking the helm and continuing her strong success.'

Of the wider regional role, Carey says: 'We already use our international network constantly, but this will bring a specific focus to identifying and developing the new and innovative service offerings that Added Value is renowned for. For example, our recently evolved approach to brand positioning is helping our clients bridge the gap between their strategy and execution, something we know is a central business issue for our Australian clients.'

Added Value has 23 offices across 14 countries. The Australian firm is online at www.added-value.com/#en-au//home_state .