Wavemaker has appointed Ryan Haeusler to the newly created role of national head of communication and planning design. He joins the GroupM media agency after nine years at IPG Mediabrands' Initiative, where he most recently served as national head of communications design.

In the new role, Haeusler will report to chief growth & product officer, James Hier, and will lead the integration of media and creativity within the agency’s strategic offering.

"Ryan is a unicorn in the industry with his ability to apply rigour and magic to media. He’s uniquely able to interpret a creative idea and wash it through all parts of a media plan, not just tactically, while also incrementally driving effectiveness and efficiency. His ability to orchestrate the engineering of media while maximising the creative opportunity is renowned in the industry. As client needs continue to evolve, Ryan’s combination of skills – partnered with Wavemaker’s Provocative Planning – are guaranteed to deliver results for our clients," said Hier.

During his tenure at Initiative, Haeusler led the LEGO media account and amassed experience across various sectors including financial services, entertainment, retail, pharma, automotive, FMCG, and toys. In his new role at Wavemaker, Haeusler will report to chief growth & product officer, James Hier.

"I love Wavemaker’s positive provocation approach and the opportunities that opens up for clients, as well as for personal growth. It was definitely a big attraction in me coming here and I am also excited to be working with all the incredible Wavemaker people and their clients. I can’t wait to see what we build together," said Haeusler.