Metromedia Director Named Young Entrepreneur

Thursday 1 September 2005

Metromedia Director Named Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

Paul Manning, director of advertising agency Metromedia, has been named Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

One of five Category Winners announced yesterday, 28-year old Manning was selected from a field of 17 outstanding finalists by an independent panel of judges, for his exceptional qualities and outstanding entrepreneurial spirit.

Auckland-based Metromedia is a multi-million communications management agency providing integrated marketing communications solutions to Auckland City Council, BMW Group New Zealand, House of Travel, Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland Zoo, Visique Optometrists, Formosa Group, Fusion Electronics, Heart of the City and many more.

Established in 1999 by Manning and business partner Ant Hassett (also now 28), Metromedia had just one prospective client when the business opened its doors. The 100 percent New Zealand-owned company has since developed into a marketing hub for many leading businesses and orgnisations, and continues to enjoy significant growth.

Metromedia is the sole marketing services supplier to Auckland City Council, the country's largest local government communications contract, and has recently won BMW Group New Zealand’s prestigious retail marketing account.

Employing 28 staff, the agency is a full-service marketing communications provider with an award winning creative team, media services, print and production management, multimedia, event management and sponsorship leveraging, brand strategy and photography.

Manning says that Metromedia’s robust structure is central to its success, with management of all core communication services occurring within the agency. This allows it to offer unparalleled consistency, greater brand intelligence and significant savings through consolidation, whilst enabling the team to share knowledge across projects simultaneously.

One of Auckland’s youngest and fastest growing agencies, Metromedia has been built from the ground up to provide integrated services in volume, while being highly flexible, adaptable and exceptionally cost competitive. “That is Metromedia’s point of difference,” says Manning.

He sees Metromedia at the forefront of adapting to the industry’s continuously evolving trends, integrating the efficiency of traditional media with services such as experiential marketing and electronic media solutions.

“As a young company, Metromedia has always been quick to grasp new technologies with innovative examples including the development of our industry-leading client extranet and agency management software.”

The agency also recently launched a new service integrating sponsorship, loyalty programmes and event management into the agency mix, providing a cutting-edge outsource solution for clients who want to better leverage their brands through these experiential activities, he says.

With further planned expansion this year and the imminent acquisition of two complementary businesses, Metromedia is set to further deepen its service offering and growth.

One of the biggest agencies in Ponsonby Auckland, Metromedia makes every effort to play a vital role as a responsible business with high community values, working closely working with Ponsonby Road Promotions without charge on local projects including developing a new brand for the area.

Chair of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year judging panel, David Johnson, says that each of the judges were impressed by the high calibre of the finalists.

“All of the finalists have created strong and successful businesses but it is the five category winners who truly reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that Ernst & Young is celebrating. Each category winner demonstrates leadership, innovation, passion and the focus to create successful businesses.”

Manning and the other four Category Winners will now compete for the overall title of the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, with the winner announced at a gala banquet in Auckland on Wednesday 12 October.

The winner of the New Zealand title will go on to represent New Zealand in the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo in May 2006.

ENDS

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