Australian CEO departs whiteGREY as the agency folds into AKQA
The Australian CEO of whiteGREY, Lee Simpson, has stepped down from his role effective immediately, as the agency has been absorbed by AKQA globally.
AKQA’s APAC managing partner, Brian Vella, will lead the new team, as the whiteGREY name will no longer exist.
Simpson
Globally, five studios will be transitioning between the agencies, including Grey’s Australia, UAE, Italy and Belgium, in an effort to expand AKQA’s operations in those countries.
The complementary strengths and expertise of these companies, combined with AKQA’s existing offices, have minimal role duplication and will build on the exceptional work created for clients such as Volvo, Westfield, The Coca-Cola Company and additional industry leaders.
Simpson said he is proud of his achievements at whiteGREY, since he was appointed to the CEO role in 2017.
“I joined whiteGREY at a challenging time when Grey and The White Agency merged and embarked on an ambitious journey of expansion and growth to its services, capabilities and clients,” he said.
“We created a new positioning and model, welcomed some fantastic clients, have been recognised as a top ten agency in the region for creativity and effectiveness (Cannes and WARC respectively) and are currently AFR’s Most Innovative Media & Marketing Company and the Most Innovative Small business in ANZ.
“We proved tension really can create extraordinary.”
Simpson will continue to work alongside Vella for the next few months to ensure a seamless transition, to support the new, merged team.
WPP’s AUNZ president, Rose Herceg, said: “Lee is one of the best leaders I’ve ever known.
“Smart, gutsy and a leader whom we all respect. Lee has set the foundation for the next exciting period in AKQA Australia and New Zealand’s evolution. Lee can be incredibly proud of the contribution he has made. I have enjoyed every minute of working with Lee. It’s been a personal highlight for me.”
The CEO position is the only role affected by the changes. No further comment will be made by WPP at this time.
Mumbrella understands further announcements will be made in due course.
Last week, WPP merged The&Partnership and mSix&Partners to create a new fully-integrated agency with AI at the forefront, as revealed in ANZ by Mumbrella.
Late last year, it also announced the merger of its creative agencies VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, bringing the VML name out of retirement. The change took effect on January 1.
Shortly after that merge, it revealed plans to combine its communication agencies Hill & Knowlton and BCW, to form Burson. The name also returns to the WPP stable after retiring in early 2018 when it was merged with Cohn & Wolfe. The merger will take effect on July 1.
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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A courageous decision by WPP…. Whoever takes the advantage of snapping Mr. Simpson up will be very fortunate indeed…
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A courageous decision by WPP…. Whoever takes the advantage of snapping Mr. Simpson up will be very fortunate indeed…Richard Goodrich.
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Why would WPP let one of its best CEOs leave?
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Because they are merging 2 agencies, and 2 into 1 does not go.. so one has to leave. Does that make sense now?
Lee and Brian are both great operators.
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It wouldn’t.
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