Michael Lyons

👋🏻 After 4 1/2 awesome years at Contact Energy Ltd , I’m that guy doing a “I’m leaving post, look at me post ”…geez why am I doing this? Get it together man… Primarily it’s because I didn’t get to say goodbye to so many of my awesome colleagues and teammates across the country, I got walked as I’m “kind of a big deal” (**sarcasm font required and Anchorman vibes - i digress, anyways…) and had to be jettisoned asap and today is my last day As everyone always says (probably as it’s the truth) it’s the people that make a culture and a company, and boy is that the case at Contact (I.e global top 100 places to work, Energy Retailer of the Year, The Good Initiative….) . I’ve loved every second working there and what we accomplished for many kiwis, becoming a genuine alternative to the big guy telcos by becoming #5 biggest broadband provider in NZ, building and growing a Mobile business to start challenging the establishment through a challenger mindset, and growing our energy base year after year, through our time of use plans and sharp Gas pricing A big thank you to Angus Wilson and Matt Bolton for bringing me on board, and to Sam Morse, Carolyn Luey and the current and past leadership team, my peers and my team that pushed and challenged me to be better “Why are you posting this, where to next, Lance? Whats the plan?” Great question my LinkedIn acquaintances…. Much to my contact teams chagrin (probably…Im hoping), I’m taking up the role of Head of Energy at Mercury NZ , so red will become yellow (even though black is my colour of choice fashion wise) and I’ll continue to do my best to ensure we are doing what’s right for all kiwis. As someone once said “It is nice to have valid competition; it pushes you to do better”. And with that, game on….. Bryan Middleton Sera Flint Jo Kearins Matt Jackson (MJ) Matthew James Justine Bouzaid Bob H. Lorrin Greatbatch Shea Whittington Georgia Rowe Cam Wilson Rachel Koenen Sarah A. Deva Manisy Timothy Lobb Darin Godber and too many else to thank

Last week, B–A was recognised alongside our partners at Fonterra as finalists in the Commercial Impact Award at the Research Association New Zealand 'Insights Effectiveness' Awards. The recognition was for the research and brand development work that led to Your Co-op – work we’re proud to have developed in with the Fonterra team. It was great to be there on the night with Fonterra’s Anna Parcell, seeing our work alongside some of the best research and insight work from across New Zealand. Thanks to the Research Association New Zealand (RANZ) for a great evening.

Now this is a decent day on the water! Four from four Shark Awards in Kinsale for Mole Maps of Ireland. Very proud of everyone at Boys + Girls who made it happen, and grateful for the Marie Keating Foundation for backing and believing in the work. Nice one, all. Dean Ryan Jack Walsh Rory Hamilton Caroline Keogh Sára Benkő Tara Finnegan Matthieu Chardon Will Farrell Blast Audio Lauren McNinney maxi mc donnell Pat Stephenson

Throwback Thursday: Lotto – Wilson. Lucky Dog It was late at DDB. Natalie Knight, Gavin Siakimotu, Brett Colliver, and I were burning the midnight oil on Instant Kiwi when an idea popped up - a dog diving overboard to rescue a winning ticket. It was a funny thought, but we all knew it wasn't right for a scratchies brief. So we parked it. When the next Lotto brief landed, Nat, Gav, and I pulled the thought back out, wrote the script, and Lucinda Sherborne gave us a proper strategy to sell it in. Steve Ayson directed and insisted on a Wire haired fox terrier because it was a breed that hadn’t been used in ads - also as it turns out, a breed notoriously tough to train. Trainers Caroline Girdlestone Hero Animals and James Delaney pulled off a miracle, and overnight every kid in New Zealand wanted a "Lotto dog". One Fox terrier fan Rebecca Baird, is in the process of writing a book about this ad! The real fight, though, was the track. Music is 50% of any spot, get it wrong and it falls flat. Nothing worked against the animatic until I was sitting on a hotel room floor in Singapore trawling YouTube. I stumbled across an obscure track by Nick Cave - To be by your side. It was perfect. Problem: Nick Cave doesn't licence his music for ads. Ever. Solution: My motto, “Grafton’s never give up”. Refusing to take no for an answer from the record label, I walked up Newton Gully to Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios. I didn't know Neil, but I knew he probably knew Nick. Someone punched in the security keypad at the door, I snuck in behind them, cornered a lady (she might’ve been Niel’s wife), and showed her the cut, she liked it. She took pity on me and asked Neil for Nick’s  manager's contact. I sent a grovelling email begging Nick to watch it. Miraculously, he loved it and agreed. Then came the nightmare chain of permissions - the French co-composer he co-wrote it with also had to agree… then the film director needed to sign it off! We literally went to air on a verbal agreement from the director before the final ink dried the next day. Nerve-shredding, but we got it. To launch, Aimee McCammon and Wendy Rayner championed to get a one off 2.30-minute epic on air, and PHD media orchestrated a full-nation roadblock so every channel played it at the exact same moment. Sure it won some awards, but taking out the 'Fair Go Ad of the Year' was the real win. You can be as weird or edgy as you like to get attention, but proper emotional storytelling is what actually sticks. If the average person on the street doesn't love your ads and talk about them, then really, what's the point. A special shout out to all these epic humans that played a massive hand in bringing this special piece of film to life. Todd McLeay Warren Salisbury, Wendy Rayner, Natalie Kennerley, Aroha Fuggle, Toby Talbot, Jenny Travers, Judy Thompson, Tania Jeram, The Sweetshop, Claire Kelly, Geoffrey Simpson, Jack Hutchings, Jon Cooper, Liquid Studios, James Davidson

The 2degrees SupportHER Line is now well and truly out in the world and having an impact. With 55% of girls telling us they feel more pressure when supporters are watching, and with girls dropping out of sport at twice the rate of boys, the words they hear on the sideline matter. So, we started with a simple question to girls across New Zealand – what do you actually want to hear from the sideline? – and this became a real boundary on real fields. From grassroots sport to the Black Ferns v Wallaroos test at Go Media Stadium, The SupportHER Line has been turning one of sport’s most familiar conventions into a reminder for everyone standing on the other side of it. An example of Disruption in its simplest form: taking something that was already there (the boundary line on sports fields and courts) and giving it another job. Proud to see this one leave the screen and make its way onto the sidelines for 2degrees SupportHER Club. 💙 Shane Catherine Daniel Davison - Ashley Wilding Simon Michael Jodie Hari Eleisha Brianna Nick Zac Dave Anna Nick Eva OMD New Zealand Supernormal

As one era ends, a new one starts for Daylight. It's so exciting to welcome Nicole Sykes as our Executive Creative Director. Bringing 25+ years of the most amazing experience building brands and telling stories here and around the world. Nicole steps in to lead our craft across everything that leaves the building from brand and content to digital experiences. Charlie Godinet, I haven't got enough words to describe our journey over the last 8+ years, pandemics, building a business, winning work, winning awards and batting away all the crazy curve balls that life threw at us over the years. You've left a permanent mark on the foundations of Daylight and I can't thank you enough for that.

Daylight has appointed Nicole Sykes as Executive Creative Director, joining the agency’s leadership team this month, bolstering the female headcount at the ECD table across ANZ. https://lnkd.in/gBQbQiYB

Since arriving at Colenso, Jack Cumming has been a force. Big congrats on a well-deserved promotion to General Manager alongside Charlotte Glennon. Two of the finest. https://lnkd.in/ebnxsPkQ

Sky unveils its star-studded line-up for New Zealand's biggest summer of cricket. The 2026/27 Summer of Cricket will see the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS take centre stage as India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka tour New Zealand in a blockbuster season of international cricket. Leading Sky's coverage will be an outstanding line-up of cricket voices and experts including Ian Smith, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Simon Doull, Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Katey Martin, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Shane Bond, Scott Styris, Lea Tahuhu, Russell Arnold and Laura McGoldrick. The summer will also feature several innovations, including the introduction of Hindi commentary for the entire India tour in partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India, alongside enhanced production capabilities such as Raptor Cam and Virtual Eye technology. All matches will be available live and on demand on Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now and Sky Go. We're proud to bring cricket fans closer to the players, the stories and the biggest moments of the summer. New Zealand Cricket Gary Burchett Adam Crothers Shalinie Morarji Marcus Hildyard Sophie Moloney