ApolloNation launches across Australia and New Zealand

The merger, completed last month, brings together a team of 60 people in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. It combines the complimentary disciplines of shopper, promotional and experiential marketing, and incorporates a strong strategic and insights team, along with creative and digital expertise, according to the agency.

ApolloNation is overseen by David Fish, managing director of Aegis Media’s activations division. Apollo’s previous Sydney general manager Richard Woods is responsible for ApolloNation’s presence in New South Wales and Queensland. Former Melbourne GM John McKay is responsible for its presence in Victoria, while Auckland GM Troy Fuller is looking after New Zealand.

Impact will no longer operate in Australia, while Synergy will continue in New Zealand as a separate agency with the enhanced service offering of merchandising, brand ambassadors and in-store sampling, according to the agency.

Fish said the merger cements 12 months of planning and development to create the next generation of activations agency, which will provide a rich and complementary service offering focused on delivering campaigns that drive their clients’ businesses forward.

“The new offer aligns more closely with the needs of our clients, allows for seamless creation and management of integrated activations campaigns within one agency, and brings together three specialist complementary skills in one true Trans-Tasman agency,” he told Campaign Asia-Pacific.

ApolloNation has developed an integrated activations planning (IAP) tool, allowing for end-to-end planning and creative development across shopper, promotional and experiential marketing.

Fish said IAP brings a comprehensive level of strategic planning to the ApolloNation’s services, covering more than 50 consumer touch points on the path to purchase and allowing the agency to delve into shopper behaviour and consumer insights from both its own and its clients’ shopper research.   

Key clients of ApolloNation include Carlton United Breweries, Nestlé, Big W, the Australian Football League, Simplot, Douwe Egberts, Heinz, Smiths, Coca-Cola, Mitre 10 and Fonterra.