The marketing world never sleeps, which means there are bound to be things that fly under your radar. To make sure you’re up to speed, here’s some news you might have missed over the last week:
Hires, promotions and other changes
Gillian Graham, CEO of the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA) has resigned, effective July 15. Graham cited personal reasons for her departure.
Audrey Raby has joined Montreal’s Commun as executive vice president. Raby was previously general manager at Rakam, has held the general manager role at CC&Co and was a project manager at Oui Marketing.
Toronto’s Yield Branding has made two hires, bringing on Katherine Vavilova as project manager and Nhan Do as designer. Vavilova joins from research firm InMoment and has previously held roles with Kognitive Marketing and O&M Belarus. Do previously worked as a freelancer for Yield. The agency said the hires are in response to recent account wins, including the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and the Georgetown Craft Beer Festival.
The National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) has created the Norman Vidler Memorial Fund after receiving a donation by the Slaight Family Foundation in Vidler’s name. Norman, who went by Gary Russell, was a well-respected broadcast industry veteran. NABS will now receive an annual donation of $50,000 over the next five years to provide programs and support to people in the Canadian broadcast industry.
New business
Vancouver’s Will has been named lead strategy and creative agency for casual and industrial apparel retailer Mark’s. The Canadian Tire-owned retailer previously worked with Sid Lee. Will began working with Mark’s on a project basis at the end of 2015, with its first campaign, called “Step into Life,” continuing the retailer’s positioning as a go-to for men’s jeans.
Lifestyle marketing and PR agency Faulhaber Communications has announced several new business wins, including Breitling Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society (supporting the upcoming Relay for Life campaign) and Aragon Properties Inc.
The Canadian Marketing Association has named Ariad Communications as its official email engagement partner. The organization and agency have a longstanding relationship and Ariad will provide email direction including strategy, design and UX.
Media
Vice Media founder and CEO Shane Smith has been named the Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year for 2016. He will be awarded during the festival in June.
The CRTC has approved Corus Entertainment’s $2.65-billion acquisition of Shaw Media and its assets. Corus Entertainment plans to close the deal on April 1.
Meanwhile, CRTC chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Blais told marketers in a speech this week that Canada’s anti-spam laws aren’t going anywhere and that such rules may only get tougher.
