Marsh steps aside as Howcroft steps up to head Y&R Brands Australia and New Zealand
Hamish McLennan, the New York based Australian Global CEO of Y&R today announced the resignation of Nigel Marsh (left) as the CEO of Y&R Brands Australia and New Zealand and the appointment of Russel Howcroft (far left) as his replacement.
“Nigel’s brief was to attract new leadership for the group companies, to manage and coach, and to provide new energy and confidence for the various agencies under his leadership,” says McLennan. “He has succeeded on all these counts. We are sorry to see Nigel go. We will miss his clarity, enthusiasm, strategic skills and his unfailing honesty.”
Howcroft, national CEO of George Patterson Y&R will takeover the role in the coming months: “It will be a seamless transition. Russel and his team have done a great job in rebuilding GeorgePatterson Y&R and he is the logical choice to take over the Y&RBrands role,” says McLennan.
One of the country’s best known and busiest advertising executives,Howcroft has been active in industry issues as former chairman of theAFA and has served on the boards of several arts and charitableorganizations. He is currently on the board of the Melbourne FootballClub and is a regular panellist on the ABC’s top rating programme onadvertising, The Gruen Transfer.
Howcroft paid tribute to Marsh’s stewardship of Y&R Brands saying, “Nigel is one of the most charismatic and dynamic leaders in thisbusiness and has been an outstanding motivator of the Y&R Brandsteam. The company is now in great shape. We have in place a terrificgroup of managers, strong brands and a focus on results for ourclients. It’s been fun and Nigel will be missed. I now look forwardto working with our CFO, Adam Foulsham, and our various businessleaders to build on the Group’s success.”
On his decision to leave Marsh said, “It’s been an intense andrewarding time. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved. Future prospectsare genuinely exciting and in Russel we have the perfect successor torealise that potential. I’m biased as he is a good friend but I believehe will be not only an outstanding leader of the group but a muchneeded spokesman and champion for the industry. I am going to take abreak and write my third book before considering my next corporate rolebut will be on hand to assist if required.”
23 Comments
So who’s going to run GPY&R then?
This is great news for the agency. Russ loves advertising – he absolutely loves it. The work coming out of melbourne and his relationship with the creative department is proof of that. Even on Gruen he takes every opportunity to champion good work and the value agencies bring to clients businesses. Good luck Russ. [and no I don’t work with him, or sleep with him – although if he lost a few kgs……..!].
Well done Rus, a true champion of the industry and a modern day advertising legend (of which there are very few in oz today) that we so desperately need for all of us to suceed.
Sir.
I’ll have a job at Patts Melb please, they are always right & red on the chart that matters.
Who’s going to be Coulson’s MD. Important hire!
4.46PM & 7.25PM – PHIL
Go Russel
I hope it is Phil, I need a job.
Well done Russ, I’ve never met somebody who knows a junior shit-kicker’s name in the street a few weeks after you met him, but also remembers that after he won shiny statue stuff.
Tough gig, but hopefully you can convince the penguins that making life easier for clients doesn’t ensure better work.
I’m sure you’re up for it, would be great to see patts a powerhouse in Sydney again.
BTW. Well bloody done mate.
Matt.
Amazing – no really
Plum job now going in Hot Melbourne agency.
Shit hot MD/CEO’s please contact to R. Howcroft, Group CEO Y&R Brands.
Good luck up there in Sydney Russ!
You can still see the D’s on Foxtell.
Wll somebody tell me, has Coles left DDB?
You’ve got a lot of work to do Russ if you’re going to get anywhere even close to Todd and Leo Burnett’s tally at Cannes this year.
9.08, Almost. Expect news on Coles soon.
come on 9.53am….Burnetts is a well inflated house of cards and everyone knows it….
10.23
AH, VERY INTERESTING. I’VE HEARD TOO MANY RUMOURS AND THE QUIET IS UNSETTLING.
is DDB going down down?
I loath the wannabe blokey language that you people use: “junior shit-kicker’s… well bloody done mate… hot shit MD…”
Nauseating. Are you all so unconfident (or uneducated) that you have to write that way? It actually takes a lot of effort to come across so casual.
Hey 8.04 – fuck off.
PS: Congrats Russell.
Sorry 9.53, but good agencies don’t focus on Cannes or any other awards.
Good agencies focus on selling stuff for their clients. Do that well, and awards will come. Focus on awards and you might win some, but you’ll lose more accounts than you gain.
Patt’s always knew that (they won plenty of Cannes awards, including the top one, while being vilified by the local industry for being ‘boring’ – go figure).
Russel will know that better than anyone and get the balance right.
8:04 – I write for the people, not the nauseating intellectuals.