Marketing News Canada Roundup: AntiSocial Solutions, Canadian Media Directors, and more!

Today we feature a round-up of some big events and recent industry happenings.

• AntiSocial Solutions adds Lindsay Renwick as Managing Director
• Canadian Media Directors’ Council appoints Karine Courtemanche as new Chair
• Pinterest Adds AR Furniture Placement Tools

Read more below!

AntiSocial Solutions adds Lindsay Renwick as Managing Director

Social media agency AntiSocial Solutions has added Lindsay Renwick as Managing Director in Toronto.

Previously with Dentsu Canada as Group Director Social, Renwick will now manage the AntiSocial team in Toronto. Her responsibilities include driving growth, fostering a culture of collaboration, and overseeing processes. With 14 years of experience in social roles at digital and creative agencies, Renwick is “passionate to advocate for the discipline of social media marketing and the transformational effect it can have on brand perception and performance.”

Lindsay Renwick, Managing Director

Renwick continues, “Aside from supporting the agency’s already well-established reputation for seamless social content production, I plan to bring a greater focus on high-impact social activations and will continue to build out the paid media offering to provide end-to-end social media marketing services to clients in Canada’s business capital.”

“Our goal is for AntiSocial to become the leader in social media first agencies in Canada, pushing boundaries in storytelling, strategy, and media. With Lindsay joining the team, we’re confident that she will navigate the agency in the right direction and help us lead the team“ says Amir Sahba, CEO of Thinkingbox, AntiSocial parent company.

This is the first leadership role that AntiSocial has added on the east coast, creating coast-to-coast expansion for the agency. With Renwick, AntiSocial will continue to develop relationships with brands that drive full-funnel impact, delivering attention-grabbing work that doesn’t only react to trends but aims to create content that sparks conversation. As the agency continues to see strong growth, doubling annual revenue and staff in 2021.

Canadian Media Directors’ Council appoints Karine Courtemanche as new Chair

The Canadian Media Directors’ Council (CMDC) announced the appointment of Karine Courtemanche, CEO of PHD and Touché Canada, as Chair of the association’s board. Karine's appointment is effective immediately; she will serve for two years.

Karine Courtemanche, CEO of PHD and Touché Canada

Recognized as an agent of change, Karine is a universally respected media executive with over 20 years of media agency experience. Her considerable strengths in strategic leadership and talent mentorship are bolstered by a diverse perspective on the Canadian marketplace.

“Karine’s long history of industry leadership and her extensive experience advising clients, talent, and partnerships make her the ideal person for this role. We're thrilled Karine can join us at such a pivotal time. She will be invaluable in supporting our mission of building a healthy and responsible Canadian media ecosystem, as set out in our recent Canadian Media Manifesto. I look forward to working closely with Karine to continue to ensure the CMDC makes a positive impact on the media industry – for our people, our clients and society as a whole.” remarked CMDC President Shannon Lewis.
Courtemanche added “I am honoured to accept the role of CMDC Board Chair. It's such an exciting time for our media profession. The needs of our clients, our audiences, regulators, and partners are changing rapidly. From commerce to cookies, advertising has changed so much, and we must work together to create real impact in the marketplace. As media leaders, we have a huge platform and, of course, a responsibility to shape the industry as we move forward. At the same time, Canadian media has never been more important than it is right now. There's no question that we at the CMDC play a vital role reinforcing the value of Canadian media and ensuring we continue to thrive."

In addition to her new role at CDMC, Courtemanche sits on other industry boards including the non-executive and independent director of WildBrain, the world's largest independent of kids' content. For four years, she was also a vital presence on the board of FitSpirit, an organization dedicated to helping young girls discover the benefits and joy of the physical activity.

The Canadian Media Directors’ Council is an association that plays a proactive role in the media communications industry as advocates, leaders and advisors, to ensure a fair and progressive marketplace on behalf of our clients, our agencies and our media partners.

Pinterest Adds A/R Furniture Placement Tools

Pinterest is taking online shopping to a whole new level with the integration of new AR technology. featuring a new ‘AR Try-On for Home Décor’ process, Pinterest users will now be able to virtually sample home decor and furniture in their homes. Pinterest describes this new feature as "the latest step in bringing together the worlds of augmented reality and shopping on Pinterest."

The new feature is part of Pinterest's constantly evolving focus and AR lens technology. The platform will help depict the actual size and aesthetic of an object prior to purchase to help eliminate any apprehension buyers might have. The users can adjust the product within the camera view to better understand how it will apply to their space.

The platform is also expanding to include virtual try-on tools, offering make-up (lipstick and eyeshadow) among its expanding digital showcase options for brands. Snapchat has been making similar moves, offering users the ability to sample sunglasses and shoes.

AR shopping, in general, is already seeing a good response, with over 100 million consumers now regularly shopping with AR, and 60% of them saying that they often use the option to finalize purchase decisions (source: Social Media Today).

Compiled from various sources by Emma Whiten, Editor of Marketing News Canada