True bolsters senior leadership team appointing Y&R’s Steve Kane to managing director role

Following the announcement of Steve Kane’s departure from Y&R, independent agency True has announced the appointment of Kane (second from left) as managing director to further strengthen the agency’s leadership team. True’s current managing director and co-founder, Matt Dickinson (second from right), will assume the role of CEO when Kane joins the agency in the new year.

Kane was the managing director of Y&R NZ for two and a half years. During his time at Y&R NZ the agency was named Campaign Brief Agency of the Year 2015, APAC’s most awarded agency at the 2016 Cannes Lions and D&AD.

Over the course of his 22-year career Kane has held senior positions across a broad range of marketing disciplines including account management, public relations and creative director, both here and in the United Kingdom.

True CEO and co-founder, Matt Dickinson, says Kane is a natural fit for the agency: “Both Craig (Pethybridge) and I have worked with Steve in the past, so we know he’s a good egg and that he shares the values that True is built on; putting our people first and partnering with our clients to ensure we’re making the right work for the brand, the brief and the budget.

“True has undergone steady growth since we opened the doors back in 2011 and the time is right to bring someone else into the business that will help to deliver that personal touch, considered thinking and accountability at a senior level that our clients have come to value and expect.” Says Matt.

True ECD and co-founder, Craig Pethybridge (far left), says he’s looking forward to Kane’s many faceted and proven skill set contribute to the next stage in True’s growth.

Says Pethybridge: “Steve has this unique blend of strategy, creativity and business nous that I find strangely arousing. He gets all sides of an agency in a way few people do. I’m also really looking forward to comparing ‘Dad jokes’.”

Kane says he’s long admired the “cut of True’s jib.”

Adds Kane: “I have known Matt and Peth for many years and have been long impressed by their understated approach and entrepreneurial spirit. They’ve attracted a fabulous bunch of people around them and the agency has grown steadily whilst delivering first class work for clients both big and small, resulting in an unprecedented loyalty among their client partners and their people. The agency has a fantastic vibe and I’m dead excited about becoming part of the True family.”

(Pictured L-R: Craig Pethybridge, ECD; Steve Kane, MD; Matt Dickinson, CEO; Conan Gorbey, operations director)