Julian van de Wetering returns to NZ after 17 years abroad

Independent PR and events agency, Agent99, has been appointed to lead the Australian launch of Canadian furniture brand, Cozey, marking the company’s first expansion outside North America.

Following a competitive pitch, Agent99 will drive earned media, creator partnerships, and experiential activity to introduce the brand to the local market. The agency will also deliver an experiential house take over activation, ‘Australian Home of Cozey’, in May.

Agent99's Founder and Director, Sharon Zeev Poole, said the campaign is designed to connect the brand with evolving consumer behaviours and tastes in the Australian market.

"The way Australians live is changing, and that’s creating new expectations around how homes function," she said.

"Our role is to introduce Cozey in a way that feels relevant to those shifts and to build awareness through experience-led storytelling."

Nick Johnston has been appointed Head of Communications at Australian food manufacturing company, Kinrise, whose portfolio of brands includes Cobs Popcorn and Greens. He joins from Acenda, where he was Senior Manager Media Relations and Corporate Communications.

Nick brings three decades of experience in media and comms across corporate, politics, industry groups and sport, following a career in journalism at The Age, ABC, and Nine.

Global CEO advisory firm, Teneo, has announced the appointment of Ben Wilson as Head of Australia for its Strategy & Communications business. Based in Sydney, he will work closely with colleagues across the firm's global advisory platform to provide counsel to clients.

Ben was most recently a Managing Partner at ​​GRACosway, where he led the firm's transactions communications practice. His experience includes advising on major international inbound M&A and transformational transactions, including a take-private of an ASX-listed technology company, as well as acquisitions across renewables, energy transmission and distribution, infrastructure, and private equity carve-outs.

Ben began his career in broadcast journalism and had previously served as a government ministerial advisor. Throughout his career, he's built up experience advising boards and senior executives in Australia across energy, technology, infrastructure, financial services, resources, and real estate.

Lauren Chung, CEO, Asia‑Pacific, Strategy & Communications at Teneo, said: “Ben assumes the leadership of our Strategy & Communications business in Australia at a pivotal time for the firm. We have scaled up our platform in key Australian cities to support clients across an array of reputational, stakeholder, strategic and financial moments. Bringing decades of experience across complex communications advisory, media and politics, Ben will partner closely with our Financial Advisory team to deliver senior-level counsel for our clients."

Commenting on his appointment, Ben said: "Teneo's global network and integrated advisory model is a strong fit for the Australian market as business leaders face interconnected reputational, regulatory and market pressures. I’m excited to grow the platform domestically, bring world-class capabilities and insights to Australian companies and support our global clients with the local counsel they need to navigate this market."