Australia's Bastion Insights Appoints MD

In Australia, former Kantar and Hall & Partners exec Steven Howlett has joined independent marketing and communications agency Bastion as MD of its Bastion Insights division, based in Melbourne.

Previously known as Bastion db5, Bastion Insights offers qual and quant research, brand strategy, innovation and communications advisory. Howlett's arrival follows that of long-time Hall & Partners' exec Joanna Fanuele who joined the agency last month as Chief Exec, replacing outgoing CEO and founder Chris Hubble.

Howlett, who will lead insights teams based in Melbourne and Sydney, brings more than twenty years' experience, most recently from Kantar where he was Executive Director of Commercial Excellence. He worked earlier as a Partner at global brand consulting agency Hall & Partners.

Jack Watts, Group CEO of Bastion comments: 'It is terrific to have someone of Steven's calibre and experience come on board to lead our Insights consultancy offering. Everything we do across our business starts with data-led insights to get to the core of the client or customer question. Hence we have built a deep insights capability that spans over 90 staff across Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra locally as well as LA and NYC abroad'.

Web site: www.bastioninsights.com .