After months of rumours AdNews can confirm that UM CEO Mat Baxter will leave his Sydney-based role for a spot at IPG Mediabrands in New York – as part of Henry Tajer's dream team.
Ex-Soap MD Ross Raeburn*, who joined IPG Mediabrands in July as commercial director, is tipped to succeed Baxter.
Well-known and outspoken Australian media boss, Baxter, renowned for winning the Coke account from Ikon in March 2014 and scooping awards for #ColourYourSummer campaign, had been non-committal in his answers about moving overseas, however, AdNews understands that the official news was confirmed in an internal staff meeting this afternoon.
It's not known exactly what role he will take on but this is expected to be revealed shortly.
UM also nabbed Coca-Cola Amatil from Ikon this year.
Baxter is going out on a high following UM Sydney being named the best place to work in the country in BRW's list of employers under 100 people.
Since taking on the global CEO role in New York for IPG Mediabrands, Henry Tajer, former Australia chairman, has been on a hiring spree plucking some top talent from the Australian market for global or international roles based out of the US.
John Sintras, former chairman of rival agency network StarcomMediaVest, Mnet's Travis Johnson, Cadreon's Marc Lomas and media auditor Charles Godbold have all been appointed by Tajer for global posts.
Baxter, who has been UM CEO for nearly five years was also a founding partner and CEO of Naked.
IPG did not respond to our enquires before publication.
*This story was updated at 7:40pm tipping Ross Raeburn, former Soap MD, as Baxter's successor.
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