Richard Brett promoted to CEO of Ogilvy PR Australia; Jacqui Abbott to MD role at Pulse

Ogilvy PR Australia has announced changes to its executive leadership team.

Richard Brett (pictured) has been promoted to CEO of Ogilvy PR Australia (Brett is currently Managing Director, Pulse Communications); Jacqui Abbott (far left) will be promoted to Managing Director, Pulse Communications (Abbott is currently Deputy Managing Director, Pulse Communications); and Kaz Scott (second from right) will be promoted to the newly created role of Chief Influence Officer, Ogilvy PR Australia (Scott is currently Strategy and Planning Director).

Former CEO, Kieran Moore (above right) takes on the new role of Ogilvy PR Australia Chairman, devoting 25-30 per cent of her time to the Ogilvy PR business – including senior counsel on key clients – and the rest of the time to her role as WPP AUNZ CEO of PR and PA, managing the remaining 12 agencies in her portfolio.

Says Moore: “I learnt a long time ago, that a strong leadership team will evolve from offering great opportunities to the right people at the right time.  I am thrilled to announce the promotions of three of our very best people to lead the charge as Ogilvy PR Australia enters a new phase of future growth and success.

“In the past five years Ogilvy PR has grown to be the largest PR company in Australia.  During that time, we have hired amazing people, won a fantastic bunch of clients, won awards, created a great culture and established an amazing reputation in the Australian marketplace,” said Moore. “With Richard at the helm and supported by the outstanding talents of Jacqui and Kaz, I have every confidence of OPR’s future success.”

With more than two decades of marketing, corporate and brand communications experience, Brett joined Pulse Communications in 2013 from Shine Communications in the UK, and has been responsible for reinvigorating Pulse into the consumer powerhouse it is today. Under Brett’s leadership Pulse has enjoyed massive growth with a key focus on re-establishing the agency’s creative, product and innovation offerings, which has led to a more digital and socially led PR approach.  As MD of Pulse, Brett led effective initiatives such as the annual Futures trend report, the Impact4 measurement system and the Brave creative methodology, as well as award-winning campaigns for clients including eBay, Netflix, Ford and Bacardi.

Prior to joining OPR in 2014, Jacqui Abbott was head of public affairs and social media at Australia’s second largest airline, Virgin Australia, responsible for leading all internal and external communications.

“Jacqui is passionate, hard-working, dedicated to the cause and thrives on team work,” Moore continued. “Her client service experience across both corporate and consumer communications both in Australia and the UK has meant she has made an outstanding contribution to Ogilvy over the years. On the strong foundation that Richard has built, I look forward to watching Jacqui manage the Pulse business to even greater success.”

A seven-year OPR veteran, Kaz Scott brings more than 15 years’ experience in communication planning, strategy development, issues management; campaign and behaviour change to the newly created role of Chief Influence Officer, OPR Australia.

“The new role reflects Australia’s move to Ogilvy PR’s global positioning around influence,” said Moore. “We consider Kaz to be a true generalist; her insights and ability to get the best out of her colleagues and attack a client’s brief is second to none.  Kaz was our first Planning and Strategy Director and I have no doubt she will relish in her new role with the same enthusiastic approach she has for the past seven years.”

The new leadership team will also be supported by the appointment of Caitriona Circosta as Ogilvy PR’s new Finance Director, who will work alongside Richard Brett and the MDs of all other OPR agencies.

Currently Finance & Operations Director at Nova, Circosta’s appointment will allow Paul Rushton to concentrate on his operations role and his wider WPP AUNZ role working alongside Kieran Moore.