Future State Consulting’s Richard Thompson + Alex Radford launch digital media agency D3

A new digital media agency called D3 has been launched by Richard Thompson (right) and Alex Radford (left).

Thompson and Radford left their corporate media roles nine months ago to set up NZ’s first digital marketing consultancy, Future State Consulting.

With over a dozen transformational projects undertaken for businesses including Barfoot & Thompson, Mitre 10, Frucor Suntory, Disney, TVNZ, JUCY Group, My Food Bag, Tourism New Zealand and NZ Wine, it’s been confirmation that there is a need and a gap in the market for in-depth digital strategy.

Says Thompson: “We’ve had businesses wanting to understand how they can get clarity in their digital goals, a clear roadmap, and confidence in the execution across platforms, data, media and especially structure.”

Says Radford: “It was really clear. That we could take the processes and learnings from the Consultancy and deliver a unique and truly data driven media and technology product, designed for ambitious NZ businesses that want to operate beyond just moment and message.

“As such we have been working with both My Food Bag and the Co-operative Bank to develop an agency model that is fully ingrained in business growth, and with global tech companies to support that growth.”

With both Radford and Thompson having held senior-leadership positions in several large agency groups it has been an opportunity for them to build an agency designed for the needs of today’s NZ marketing teams.

Says Radford: “It’s been really clear that what NZ clients really value is great thinking, great talent, and access to best in class technology all combined with a mindset of collaboration and success. While network groups are centralising and out-sourcing and putting the client further away from implementation we believe that local clients want the exact opposite. Which is what we will bring to every client engagement.”  

Says Louise Cunningham, CMO, My Food Bag: “We are confident that the D3 team will be able to provide the leadership and collaborative approach to digital media that will continue to grow the My Food Bag brand”

Says Kate Necklen, GM of brand and marketing, The Co-operative Bank: “D3 felt like the perfect partner for us as we continue to evolve our digital marketing to take the Co-op brand to the next level.”

Future State will continue working on transformational digital projects and strategic planning, while D3 will focus on ROI driven digital media planning and buying with data at the heart of the model.

Says Thompson: “Watch this space for some very exciting news about new hires for both Future State and D3, and partnerships with cutting edge global technology companies.”