Melanie Spencer

Melanie Spencer is an Auckland-based marketing entrepreneur and co-founder and co-chief executive of Thompson Spencer Group, one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing independent agency groups.

Spencer joined Socialites Group as chief executive in 2019, transforming it from a specialist social media agency into a full-service creative and accredited media business. She led the rebrand to Thompson Spencer and later drove a merger with performance agency Reason, forming the Thompson Spencer Group with offices in Auckland, London and Sydney. The group now encompasses Thompson Spencer, Socialites, Socialites Academy and The Social Club, Australasia’s largest influencer agency.

Under Spencer’s leadership, the group surpassed $12 million in revenue in 2024, securing high-profile clients including Honda NZ and Auckland Transport. She has been recognised as a Campaign Asia Woman to Watch in 2023, received a commendation for Campaign Asia Australia/NZ Agency Head of the Year in 2024, was a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021 and was shortlisted for CEO of the Year at the Women Leading Change Awards.

Spencer studied business and management at the University of Auckland, where she now guest lectures on women in business and entrepreneurial mindset. She brings nearly 20 years of senior marketing experience across Sydney and Auckland and is active in mentoring emerging talent in the New Zealand agency industry.

Her profile is noteworthy because she has built a New Zealand-headquartered creative agency that competes with global networks, growing from a social media niche into a multi-discipline group with international reach, all while keeping the business independent and wahine-led.

Melanie features in our look at the NZ women who redefined success on their own terms.

Sources: Campaign Asia · Campaign Brief · NZ Marketing