Starcom today announced that it has further strengthened the management team of its Perth office with the appointment of well-known media identity James Burke to the newly-created role of General Manager.
 
Burke will work with client business manager Helen Hammond, who joined Starcom Perth in June last year and has more than 29 years experience in the media industry.
 
Burke has 23 years experience in the media industry, working in both media agencies and television networks. During his career, he has been Media Director of The Brand Agency (Initiative Media), Senior Sales Executive with Seven Network (Sydney), Media Manager at Media Decisions, Media Group Head at Marketforce, Senior Account Executive at Network Ten (Perth) and Senior Media Planner & Buyer at Total Advertising & Communications (now PHD).
 
During his career Burke has been responsible for the strategic media planning and buying on some of Perth’s largest media accounts including The Department of Health, The Office of Road Safety, Curtin University of Technology, RAC Group, The Sunday Times, Bunning’s WA, SA & NT and SGIO.
 
For the past nine years, he has been a director of independent strategic media consultancy Ergo. Ergo’s clients have included Rare Creative Thinking, Trilogy Advertising & Marketing, Vinten Browning Advertising and The Rubis Group.
 
At Ergo Burke has been responsible for the strategic planning on numerous industry award-winning campaigns including Campaign Brief (WA)’s Best of Year Winner – Innovative Use of Media for The Department of Health’s Injury Prevention – “Stay on Your Feet WA” campaign and The Office of Road Safety’s Rural Restraints campaign; and Best of Year Winner – Campaign Effectiveness  for The Department of Health’s Injury Prevention – “Stay on Your Feet WA”  and Curtin University of Technology’s “Curtinnovation” campaign.
 
In his new role as General Manager, Burke will be responsible for Starcom Perth’s growth and client service. He will report to Starcom Adelaide Managing Director Anne Rodgers who also has  responsibility for Perth.
 
Rodgers said: “We are thrilled to have secured one of the industry’s best strategic talents and his appointment in this new role demonstrates our commitment to the Perth market.
James’s depth of experience and reputation in Perth will bring fantastic benefits to our clients, including our national clients Metcash, Network Ten and Subway. We are confident that James will also successfully grow the agency in this important market.”
 
Burke’s appointment is effective from March 9th.