OMD has overhauled its leadership structure, promoting several senior staff to managing partner level and expanding the leadership team under new OMD Melbourne managing director, Dianne Richardson.
OMD Melbourne general manager Antonia Glezakos and head of Coles and Target Alex Smith have been promoted to managing partners and join Sharon Cookson at that level. Highly regarded strategist Henry Feagins has been promoted to head of strategy at OMD Melbourne, a rank that was previously vacant.
They are part of an expanded leadership team that also includes recent hires Richardson and managing partner Cookson, as well as head of OMD Create Melbourne Anjana Khallouf and head of investment Andrew Brannaghan. OMD is recruiting a head of digital that will also join the leadership group.
OMD Australia CEO Aimee Buchanan tells AdNews the overhaul is designed to better reflect the size and scale of OMD's Melbourne office, which has doubled in size in the past five years to 180 staff.
“These promotions all very senior people who could run an agency in their own right,” OMD Australia CEO Aimee Buchanan tells AdNews.
“The context is that Melbourne, as an office, has doubled in the past five year and is bigger than some agencies nationally. The previous structure wasn't really designed to manage that scale.
Another motivating factor, Buchannan adds, is allowing senior leaders the head space and time to invest in major clients.
“The new structure enables that so our leaders have two or three clients at that level,” she explains.
Smith will continue to oversee the Coles and Target group, two of OMD's larger clients.
Cookson will be responsible for Mazda and Village Roadshow, Glezakos will oversee RACV, Bonds, Simplot and a few other clients as well as provide operational support to Richardson.
“Before joining I was aware of the agency’s high regard, but I’ve been blown away by the talent here,” Richardson adds.
“The re-structure builds on the great strength we already have, whilst also setting us up for future growth and success. I’m really excited to see the leadership team and the agency continue to raise the bar for our clients.”
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