Ogilvy promotes leaders to managing director roles as agency continues patterns of growth

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Screen Shot 2018-11-08 at 6.25.09 am.jpgOgilvy Australia has promoted four of its key leaders in Sydney and Melbourne, as part of a continued push to position itself as ‘Agency of the Future’.

Sally Kissane and Michelle Holland have both been elevated to managing directors for Ogilvy Sydney, after working together as managing partners for three years.  In Melbourne, Gavin MacMillan and Michael McEwan also become managing directors following three years of working together as managing partners.  

Says David Fox, CEO, Ogilvy Australia: “All four of these leaders have clearly demonstrated to the business and the broader market that leading an agency with different, but complementary skills, can result in outstanding success.

“Ogilvy Australia is heading into its fourth consecutive year of growth, and as we continue to expand our broad capabilities, deeper management of these offices is now required.  Gavin and Michael in Melbourne, and Sally and Michelle in Sydney have already proven themselves as formidable management teams that can work together to nurture strong cultures, enabling both organic, and new business growth through our fully integrated digital, social, content and data offers.

“But this new promotion is not just about recognising their past success – it’s also about giving them greater opportunity to build the next level of business change by taking full management responsibility for their respective offices.  They’ll be focussed on future-fitting the business with all the marketing armoury that our clients need from marketing automation, consulting, earned influence ideas through to the continued push of full digital services.”

Fox said the promotions were effective immediately, with both the Sydney and Melbourne MD teams reporting directly to him as CEO.

Adds Fox: “Given the scale of both the Sydney and Melbourne offices, it makes sense to have two MDs in each to ensure all elements of the business are being effectively managed, and growth strategies executed.  They have already proven how well it can work and we are excited for the future of these offices under their guidance.”

McEwan has over 22 years’ experience working with some of the world’s most famous brands, both locally and internationally. He commenced his career in Account Management in 1996, moving into international client leadership based in Asia and now Agency Senior Leadership at Ogilvy since 2010.  McEwan’s experience spans multiple categories including tech, finance, packaged goods, retail, automotive, tourism, telecommunications, community service and state/federal government assignments.

MacMillan has 21 years of experience working in leading, global agencies. Based in London for the first half of his career and back home in Melbourne for the second, MacMillan is a strategist by trade and brings a strategic bent to the management of the Melbourne office. His strategies have been recognised by multiple creative and effectiveness awards both here and in the UK. He is a senior lecturer for the Australian Communications Council.

Kissane has spent the majority of her career around the Ogilvy network both here in Australia and in the New York office as part of the global leadership team for the biggest client, IBM.

Sally is passionate about building exceptional teams that deliver exceptional business building results for our valued clients.  She first joined Ogilvy in 1988.

Holland has over 27 years’ experience in the marketing industry. Before joining Ogilvy, she was general manager of Clemenger Proximity for eight years where she delivered innovative and effective digital campaigns and strategies for a range of high-profile clients. Holland joined Ogilvy in 2010 as business director on the American Express account where she led an integrated team before being promoted to managing partner in 2013.

(Pictured L-R: Michael McEwan, Gavin MacMillan, Sally Kissane, Michelle Holland)