PHD Australia chief executive Barry O'Brien, a media industry veteran, is leaving the agency after a long association.
The company will be led by managing director Toby Hack.
The official release was sent two weeks after AdNews was tipped off O'Brien was on the brink of leaving PHD. Calls to PHD about rumours of O'Brien's departure were flatly denied at the time.
His departure comes shortly after the agency was appointed to the $60 million-plus ANZ media account.
O'Brien said, “I’m very proud to have led PHD to where it is today; it’s been a fantastic journey, but following discussions with management over the last few months, the time now feels right for me to leave. What we have built is a thriving business and with the launch of the Melbourne office it will only continue to go from strength to strength.”
Omnicom Media Group ANZ chief executive Leigh Terry said, “Barry is not only a fantastic bloke but one of the best operators around; he has been instrumental in developing the business leading its transformation and as such we have seen substantial growth as a result under his tenure of leadership.”
Hack will be supported by general manager Martin Hadley, head of strategy Chris Stephenson, head of trading Lucy Formosa Morgan and finance director Kate Madden.
O'Brien has not yet revealed his future plans.
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