PwC UK has appointed Ben Bird as the new Media and Entertainment sector leader in its TMT practice. Bird, who joined PwC 18 months ago as Partner in its Operational Restructuring business, has over 16 years’ experience leading operational improvements to media firms. Before joining PwC, Bird was a Partner at consultancy firm Vendigital Ltd, where he led its Consumer Practice. His focus will be on driving operational efficiency, business transformation, and navigating the regulatory landscape, while also advising on challenges around audience and customer retention and exploring the implications of generative AI as both a threat and an opportunity.
IPG’s business transformation company FutureBrand has appointed Joe Thomas as Head of Marketing and New Business for its London office. Reporting to FutureBrand London’s Managing Director, Polly Hopkins, Thomas will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that support growth, including driving marketing efforts to showcase the office’s expertise across clients including Starbucks, Sanofi, Hogan Lovells, and Nestlé. Thomas joins from branding and design agency Coley Porter Bell, where he held the position of Global Head of Marketing and New Business. Prior to this, he spent five years with PR agency Persuasion Communications, four of which were in the role of Managing Director. He started his career as a Journalist at Haymarket Media, before moving agency side in 2010.
Sine Digital, a performance marketing agency, has announced the appointment of David McDiarmid as Chief Media and Product Officer. He is tasked with elevating Sine’s marketing capabilities and expanding its sector offering. McDiarmid started his career in paid search in 2006, supporting SMEs advertising on Microsoft’s Bing, before joining PHD Media to lead the Sainsbury’s paid search account. He then spent nearly a decade at Digitas, eventually leading the media business as Head of Media, working with brands such as GSK, Marriott, Under Armour, and H&M. He then joined Suntory Global Spirits, where he supported the business’ digital transformation via the development of a global in-house media centre of excellence supporting markets and brand houses.
Healthcare-focused creative agency Minds + Assembly has welcomed Fabio Gratton as an Advisor to its Board of Directors. He brings 25 years of experience in founding and scaling healthcare digital agencies to M+A. Gratton founded his first company, Ignite Health, in 2000, selling it seven years later. Since then, he has founded companies including Sonic Health, CureClick, and InVibe Labs. In his role as Advisor, Gratton will serve as counsel for the M+A leadership team, advising them on matter such as culture and acquisitions.
