Ogilvy promotes leaders to managing director roles as agency continues patterns of growth
Ogilvy 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)
16 Comments
Onya Sally and Michelle.
Surely there can only be one MD per office, otherwise you aren’t really the MD.
Very odd.
4 MDs promoted based on growth???
Haven’t you lost BMW and Amex in the past 6 months? Aren’t you currently under a hiring freeze?
Double soi latte there in Melbourne.
Congrats to all – I’ve worked with Mich & Sally previously and they are amazing. Very well deserved!
Still no ecd! Ohgilvy!!!
Old school PR shot for an old school ad agency
Seriously – just congratulate and be happy for 4 very good people and very good leaders in our business!
This industry is hard enough – we don’t need to sit back and take pot shots at each other FFS! What’s wrong with you (negaitove) people?
I’ve worked for two of these four – and know from (sensible) others about the other two. They are good, grounded, smart and decent people running good business.
If you don’t agree – that’s fine, but keep your opinions and bitterness to yourselves.
Well done to all four people!!
Seriously, hit it again!
How can a multi national not have no ecd?
And something observed , huge lack of transparency from 2 of those now sharing yet another title.
Politics, politics.
Every time needs two captains…
2 MDs e no ECD.
That Ogilvy re-founding thing is really working out. Showing that creativity isn’t the focus
Agree with @what’s wrong with you people – congrats to Sal, Michelle, Gav and Michael. All super talented and good people. Piss off haters.
It’s no surprise that the creative/advertising industry continues to consume itself when four hard working and good people get such ill informed and rubbish comments about their promotions. It’s sickening the sadness of the haters who troll this site. Well done to all four of you and congratulations. Clearly you have done some good things and knowing Foxy as being a tough but decisive leader you have deserved it. For the haters – you’ve clearly done zero In your careers and keep trolling as others keep achieving. Patheticly weak people.
Congrats guys, very well deserved. Ignore the feeble-minded haters.
Are there any examples of the new business wins that led to the promotions? I’m sure they’re deserved. But this is the first press release I’ve seen for Ogilvy in a long time. Don’t seem to be making work, don’t seem to be winning business.
4 md no ECD , what’s next? Closing Brisbane?