Comms Council: Sorry for the confusion: Zabel’s not our new CEO yet
The Communications Council has insisted that Maragret Zabel is still only its interim CEO, two days after she emailed the organisation’s membership saying that she accepted the job.
In an email from Zabel, headed “Introducing our new CEO”, she told members: “It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to accept the role of leading The Communications Council.”
She the set out her list of priorities for the organisation which is the main industry body for Australia’s advertising agencies.
Zabel, who was previously marketing director at Lion Nathan, concluded the note saying: “I will endeavour to meet as many of you as possible over the coming months and look forward to working closely with you.”
But the Communications Council has now issued a statement from chairman Anthony Freedman saying: “We can confirm that Margaret remains CEO of The Communications Council in an interim capacity during which time she’ll focus on the issues outlined in our member update. She remains in that position while an exhaustive search for a replacement is being undertaken by Hourigan International. That however does not preclude her from being considered as a leading candidate in the process.”
A spokeswoman for the Comms Council this morning told Mumbrella it apologised for the confusion.
The communications misstep is the latest in a turbulent seven days for the organisation. On Friday, it issued a terse announcement of the sudden departure of CEO Daniel Leesong with Zabel as interim CEO. It refuses to discuss the circumstances of his departure.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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The words ‘piss up’ and ‘brewery’ spring to mind.
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The ironically named Communications Council
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Looks like they were caught off guard.
But it’s right that they have an apparently competent person in the role for the interim; I like the idea of a former ‘client’ running the industry body for agencies. She’ll have a good perspective, perhaps.
That they are doing a wider search, just in case makes sense; am glad that the Comms Council are not just handing out the job to their friend without due diligence.
That said, I’m sure the irony of the communications “debacle” wont be lost on the Comms Council teams. The ones I’ve met have a sense of humouir. And are good at what they do.
In due course we’ll learn what prompted the curiously prompt exit of the former CEO and Company Secretary of the Comms Council, Daniel Leesong.
Nonetheless, as an industry, let’s back the Comms Council and make sure we get the most out of them.
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If it was my money behind this I would be looking closely at whoever is responsible for this ongoing farce, presumably the board, and asking how can we stop the Communications Council becoming a laughing stock. Talk about confirm every critics derision of the business.
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Can someone please tell me why we need the communications council?
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Can someone please tell me why we need narky anonymous comments?
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Can someone please tell me why John Grono is narky about narky comments
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Curse you Bill … I think you just out-narked me!
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Who are these faceless people on the Board? My guess is some knobs playing their own particular PR game… Some facts please Mumbrella!
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