Sydney – Chris Stephenson is named as the new strategy director of PHD Australia. Currently holding the same position in Vizeum UK, Stephenson joins PHD effective November 30.
He will be responsible for the strategy and creative output of the company, reporting to Mark Holden, managing partner of PHD.
Chris previously worked at PHD UK, before he left to join Vizeum in October 2007. Chris started his planning career at outdoor specialist Concord in 2000, before joining PHD Rocket as a communications planner in 2003. Within two years, he was promoted to the post of group strategy manager at PHD Media, and went on to write the World Cup 2006 strategy that led to the creation of ad-funded programming content on Channel 4’s T4.
The move to Vizeum saw Chris play a key role in the agency retaining Coca Cola’s media planning remit, and went on to take a lead strategy role across the Coca Cola portfolio.
On his new role, Stephenson says, “I’m thrilled to be returning to PHD and excited about the opportunity to pioneer the agency’s strategic thinking in the growing and dynamic Australian market. PHD’s thought leadership, creativity, innovation, and above all ideas-matter culture make it a remarkable and inspirational place to work.”
“We are completely delighted to get someone of Chris’s talent back into PHD – he is still one of the best strategists I have ever had working for me, an exceptional talent. He has a thinking capability that is genuinely unique and fresh. He is going to be an amazing asset for us here in Australia,” said Holden.
