A beautifully coordinated team of individuals
Since we started the business in 1995, we’ve expanded well beyond our origins as a brand strategy consultancy to now include insights, experience, and employer brand alongside design and voice.
As the most rewarded agency in Asia Pacific, we tackle the big branding issues of our times to create brands that are distinctive, genuine, desired, and socially engaged.
There’s over 70 of us working across four offices, and numerous locations further afield, so our weekly all-hands meetings are pretty lively. And that’s just how we like it. Our differences, and different perspectives, keep us sharp.
Our hybrid workplace helps everyone fit work into their lives, with our offices providing essential hives of connection and play, along with great vibes, snacks, and maybe a dog or two.
Kate Murchison
General Manager
You may recognise Kate as the nuffy who split her beurre blanc sauce on Masterchef NZ. Rooky. These days, she’s more interested in cheese. And weekend, beach-side motorhoming. Her future goals include turning 70 so she can move into a retirement village. Resort-style living and activities for days. The dream.
Tom Sykes
Strategy Director
Tom once had his own line of Lee jeans. Now has the largest collection of Timex watches in New Zealand. His grasp of fashion however has barely moved beyond the black tee. He knows where to find the best cheese scone in Auckland. And is willing to part with that information for a glass of South African red.
Jodine Bell
Creative Director
Jodine is a creative director and practised her Italian with chickens because they couldn’t tell her how bad she was. Quit her job to wrangle small children in Morocco. Once stripped Sophie Dahl naked.
Aimee Coleman
Experience Director
Principal
Aimee wrote and self-published a novel. Her mum thinks it’s the best thing ever, but also thinks Aimee has the voice of an angel. She doesn’t. But she does have a black belt in karate. She once wrote in a bio like this that she could never be vegetarian. But now she is. Funny that.
Moensie Rossier
Strategy Director
Principal
Moensie loves talking about ideas. Thinks she’s learned as much from fiction as business books. Won Brand Strategist of the Year at Transform Awards ANZ. And her name? It’s easy to say if you happen to speak Dutch or Afrikaans.
Hamish Cargill
Director, XXVI
Principal
Hamish still struggles to correctly use ‘affect’ and ‘effect’. Has been a snow reporter. And a stuntman. Once woke to a member of the royal family jumping on his bed. Rode eventing horses professionally for 6 years. And still plans to compete at the Olympics.
Simon Wright
Executive Creative Director
Principal
Simon believes brand ideas can change the world, try and tell him otherwise. He loves simplicity, Star Trek, Duran Duran and Aston Villa. Communicate, communicate, communicate is his most used saying. He is rumoured to be sponsored by Paul Smith. And he once spent an afternoon in the Arizona desert in a Jacuzzi drinking beer with Boris Becker.
Tim Riches
Group Strategy Director
Principal
Tim is a pickle lover, sometime pickler and occasional smoker. Finds Zomato an invaluable antidote to restaurant indecision. He’s a small time gardener with a thing for bonsai and terrariums and a believer in the predictive power of science fiction.
Tui Horo
Group Operations Director
Principal
Tui used to race off-road rally cars (holding the map, not the wheel). Is a closet gaming nerd at home (competing with like-minded souls nationally). Dream of undertaking her own Grand Designs project. Loves her two dogs (will show photos).
Tom Brigstocke
Group CEO
Principal
Tom’s weekend relaxations include chopping wood and looking after cattle. He gets goosebumps from Elgar. Born in the USA. Still owns a Triumph 900 (his guilty pleasure). Dislikes tofu, likes steak tartare. And contends we have an apostrophe surplus.
Wayde Bull
Planning Director
Principal
Wayde worked on Margaret Thatcher’s re-election campaign (in short trousers). Has a collection of TinTin comics in mint condition. Runs long distances when his knees agree. Is a sucker for new apps, a good historic novel and West Wing repeats.
Etana Zaguri
Designer
Etana was born on National Star Wars Day, so naturally hates Star Wars. Does enjoy lattes, Dire Straits, and piecing together a good jigsaw puzzle. Suffers from a crippling addiction to popcorn. Rumour is the secrets to her design skills are hidden in her hair, but no one knows for sure.
Ishika Patel
Account Executive
Ishika could eat crispy chicken on rice every day for the rest of her life. Or Kinder Beuno bars. A sucker for deep and meaningful conversation, she never lets a language barrier get in the way. No matter how animated (and theatrical) her hand gestures get. If her flight boards at 8pm, you’ll find her at the gate by 3:30pm. She’s not complaining though. More time to watch Friends.
Sunita Ramsey
Finance Executive
Sunita is a finance executive who loves chocolate. And Michael Jackson. Did she mention chocolate?
Mary Winter
Insights Director
Mary likes crocheting, spinning wool and having early morning coffee by the sea with retired farmers. A nature lover, she’ll gladly spend hours spying Goshawks above treetops and deeply envies a friend’s critically endangered species of black swamp gum. But let’s keep that between us.
Claire Gallagher
Internal Brand Director
Claire loves suprises (mostly), talking, Ireland and being a mum. Has a fear of fish. Danced with Salman Rushdie to ‘I Will Survive’.
Nick Ryan
Associate Director, XXVI
Nick is a writer who dreams of living in a tiny house one day, despite being 6’3". Once rode a brakeless bike around Portugal, wearing shorts and jandals. He has many passions outside of writing - including cryptozoology, 80s Rub-A-Dub, swimming in rivers, bioluminescence, wood fires, Spanish nights, and comfortable chairs.