Dan Johns leaves Ikon as Simon White takes chairman role
Ikon CEO Dan Johns has departed the agency and founder Simon White has returned to the frontline, owner STW has announced.
The announcement said that White, who co-founded the agency with Gary Hardwick before selling to STW, would take on the new role of STW Media chairman, overseeing both Ikon and the more recently launched Bohemia.
According to the announcement: “Beginning immediately, White will oversee media agencies Ikon and Bohemia as Chairman, while looking for new business opportunities, acquisition targets and growth potential in the media sector for STW both internationally and locally.”
White and Hardwick launched Ikon in 1999 with CommBank as foundation client. They sold in 2010.
The well respected Johns’ departure after more than a decade with Ikon will come as a surprise to many in the industry.
According to the announcement: “As part of discussions about Ikon’s future focus, Ikon CEO Dan Johns has resigned and is considering his next step, which may well include a new venture within the STW Group.”
Ikon’s Sydney MD Pat Crowley will be acting CEO.
Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes interviewed Johns in 2011:
Linkedin
STW doublespeak to make sure no one looks bad, PR 101. Two other execs about to ‘consider . . . next step’
User ID not verified.
I don’t get it:
Mumbrella says Johns leaves
Adnews ‘exclusive’ says Ikon parts ways.
Very different take on things.
User ID not verified.
Ironic that in the left hand column is an STW piece from Chris on how not to get fired ??
User ID not verified.