Designworks has appointed Anna Gregory as Head of Strategy and Vinesh Kumar as Creative Director, with both joining the New Zealand brand design agency as it continues leadership changes under Managing Partner Megan D’Audney.
Gregory and Kumar will report to D’Audney, who took over as Managing Partner in February.
According to the release, both are New Zealand natives returning home after international careers. Gregory returns after 15 years in the United States, while Kumar joins following creative roles in London and New York.
“Our ambition has never been simply to keep pace, but to actively redefine what brand transformation looks like in this region. To do that, we need a calibre of talent that can challenge the status quo,” said Megan D’Audney, Managing Partner, Designworks.
“Bringing Vinesh and Anna into our leadership fold is a massive coup. Their collective experience operating at the absolute highest levels in London, New York, Seattle and LA ecosystem brings a global perspective back home. Beyond their exceptional craft, they both share a relentless drive for high-impact, simplified storytelling.”
As Head of Strategy, Gregory will oversee strategy across Designworks’ global and local client portfolio. The release said her experience spans research, product design, and brand leadership, with work for Starbucks, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.
“Having worked inside the tech design space in the US, I know that great creative work relies on incredibly sharp, fearless strategy,” said Anna Gregory.
“The ambition here at Designworks to bridge the gap between complex business strategy and beautiful customer experiences is exactly the kind of challenge I want to tackle. We are here to make an impact, and the energy in this team is incredibly exciting.”
Kumar joins as Creative Director, where he will oversee the agency’s creative output, combining global design systems with the needs of the local market.
“I believe in building distinctive, enduring brand systems through tight, highly collaborative, and hungry teams,” said Vinesh Kumar.
“Designworks has an extraordinary legacy, but what excited me most about joining Megan and Anna is the vision for where we are taking the studio next.”
