Luke Waldren resigns CEO role at Grey Australia – Michael Knox + Paul Worboys to share leadership

| | 8 Comments

Michael_Knox_web.jpgCB Exclusive – CB can reveal that Luke Waldren, chief executive officer of Grey Australia, has resigned to pursue other interests outside of the agency world.

With immediate effect, Michael Knox (left), executive creative director, will become the managing partner of Grey Melbourne and will continue to drive it forward. Knox is highly regarded in the industry and his creativity, passion and leadership is well-known. Paul Worboys, COO of Grey Group Australia and head of Grey’s Sydney office, together with Knox, will be responsible for managing the Australian operation.

The departure of Waldren comes four months after the loss of TAC, the agency’s biggest account, which had been at Grey for 24 years.

Waldren joined Grey Melbourne in 2010 and was promoted from MD to CEO in April 2012. He helped rejuvenate Grey Group by attracting high-calibre talent – as well as new business. He has now decided to turn his talents towards the client side of the industry.

Luke Waldren_Apr 2012.jpgSays Waldren (left): “Grey Group is an amazing place filled with incredibly talented people, the best I have worked with. Although I will miss them greatly it’s now the right time to give someone else a go running the good ship Grey Group. I have always had an ambition to work client side and the offer I have accepted is a once in a lifetime chance. In Michael Knox & Paul Worboys, Grey Group Australia is in very good hands. I wish them only the very best.”

Prior to joining Grey, Waldren spent three years running Abundant Media, a branded content business he co-founded and before that was managing director at Badjar Ogilvy Melbourne, heading up the business for major Australian and global brands like Myer, Australia Post, British Petroleum, AAMI, Fonterra (Mainland & Bega) and Crown Casino.

Says Nirvik Singh, chairman and CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific: “Michael is one of our best creative leaders and his appointment as Managing Partner of our Melbourne office is a cornerstone of the group’s strategy for the Australia market. I am confident that Michael will take the office to the next level. At the same time, I would like to thank Luke for building the office over the past few years. He has brought about a strong focus on digital and innovation in our Australia offices and we had a great run together. He will be missed.”