AUCKLAND, 24 August 2026 Thompson Spencer has appointed highly regarded, award-winning media strategist, Oliver King, as Managing Partner: Strategy, adding further firepower to the agency’s leadership team and its connected approach to strategy, creative and media.
Most recently Head of Strategy at Spark Foundry, King held the same title at OMD, Ikon Communications and Carat.
In his new role, King will oversee the strategic direction of the agency, working across its full client portfolio to connect brands, people, data and Thompson Spencer’s breadth of specialist expertise. His remit extends well beyond media strategy, bringing a creative lens to how ideas evolve and travel across channels.
King’s combination of creative instinct and media experience is a rare find. Alongside his extensive agency career, he holds a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in Arts Management, giving him a perspective that blends strategic precision with a runs-in-his-veins understanding of creativity.
His appointment comes as Thompson Spencer continues to build momentum, following its appointment as agency of record for Honda New Zealand and its selection by Musashi to lead the brand’s entry into the Middle East, alongside recent wins including New Zealand Police, Michael Hill Jeweller and First Table in London.
The appointment also reflects Thompson Spencer’s continued evolution as an agency built around connection, bringing strategy, creative, social, influencer, media, production, performance and technology together under one integrated model.
“Olly is quite simply one of the best strategic minds in New Zealand, and we’re incredibly excited to have him join us,” says Melanie Spencer, Group CEO of Thompson Spencer. “He has an extraordinary ability to see connections others don’t: between brands and people, creativity and media, culture and commercial opportunity.
“What makes Olly especially right for Thompson Spencer is that he is a true creative at heart. He understands that media is in everything, and the importance of sculpting strategies that allow ideas to travel across channels and shape every experience that follows. He is already making a tangible difference across the agency and for our clients.”
King says Thompson Spencer’s history of challenging traditional agency models was a major drawcard.
“What drew me here is Thompson Spencer starts with connection,” says Oliver King. “The traditional funnel no longer reflects how people discover and interact with brands – society is now organised around the smartphone, and creativity can’t be separated from the channels in which it appears. Ideas need to connect with different people in different ways, without losing what makes them powerful.
“There’s a rare combination of creative ambition, media intelligence, and momentum here. I’m looking forward to bringing those strengths together and being part of what comes next for our clients and the agency.”
“Thompson Spencer is unique, and so is Olly,” adds Spencer. “It’s a perfect match.”
