Marsh to Lead TLE as Bateman Joins Telstra

Australia-based custom research firm The Leading Edge (TLE) has appointed Nigel Marsh as Chairman, following the departure of Global CEO Andy Bateman, who is joining telecoms giant Telstra in the newly created position of Director of Segment Marketing.

In addition to its Australian headquarters, TLE has offices in the UK, India, the US, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, from which it offers primary research analytics and trends/forecasting services.

Marsh joins as Chairman with 25 years of experience in branding and marketing. Most recently, he served as Regional Group CEO of Young & Rubicam Brands ANZ, responsible for more than 1,000 staff across 36 offices. Prior to this he was CEO of Leo Burnett in Australia, and he has also worked as a Director at Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO in London. In addition, Marsh has authored three books: Fat, Forty and Fired (which Warner plans to turn into a pilot program), Overworked and Underlaid, and Fit, Fifty and Fired-Up.

He joins TLE later this month, overseeing a leadership team which includes Lee Naylor as Managing Director, Australia; Chrissy Blackburn, Global Head of Strategy; and Chris Paxton, Managing Director, UK.

Marsh arrives as Bateman leaves to join Telstra after three years with TLE. His career previously included leading Interbrand in New York, serving as Worldwide Account Director at McCann Worldgroup, and holding strategic planning roles across three continents - in 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.

Telstra CMO Mark Buckman said Bateman will bring a 'unique perspective' to the team. 'It is terrific to attract someone of Andy's caliber and experience,' Buckman added. 'He is well known to Telstra in his current capacity as CEO of The Leading Edge, and has been instrumental in developing Telstra's brand strategy, and new purpose and values. Andy has vast experience in marketing, branding, advertising and research, and will add a great deal of bench strength to our team.'

Web sites: www.theleadingedge.com and www.telstra.com.au .