Fiona Johnston gone at Dentsu as structural clean up continues
Fiona Johnston
Dentsu media CEO Fiona Johnston has exited the business.
Johnston’s departure comes just a week after her fellow local Dentsu CEO, Kirsty Muddle, left the holdco to head up Ogilvy ANZ.
The moves allow ANZ Dentsu CEO Rob Harvey to do away with the multiple CEO titles that existed under previous regional boss Patricio de Matteis.
In a statement, Harvey made it clear Johnston’s departure was a redundancy.
“Our goal is to create a simpler and more competitive business. For us to move faster, with greater clarity and with more agility, we need to first remove duplication and complexity from our operating model.
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“I’d like to thank Fi for her contribution and commitment. She has played an important role in shaping our media business, including securing new clients, fostering growth with existing partners and building a connected leadership team across all our Australian offices. We wish her every success in the future.
“I appreciate there’s been some big changes to our business lately. We are seeing this as an opportunity to realign our model and ensure it best supports our strategic capabilities and strategy. We are fortunate to have a strong leadership team across Australia and Aotearoa, and these changes signal the beginning of the next chapter for dentsu ANZ – one built on simplicity, connection and clarity.”
That structure had Muddle as the “CEO, Practices and Product ANZ” and Johnston as “CEO, Client, Media and Commercial, AU”.
Rob Harvey
Harvey was appointed to the ANZ CEO role in August 2025, having successfully led Dentsu’s New Zealand operation for 12 years.
In other recent senior changes at the holdco’s Australian operations, chief creative officer Ben Coulson departed in May, having held the role for less than two years.
Brett Colliver, a creative co-lead in NZ, has stepped up to lead creative across ANZ.
The Dentsu business outside Japan — where it was founded and performs strongly — has been severely challenged in recent years, with APAC being one of the worst global performers.
In its most recent financial results, it was revealed that APAC organic revenues declined 12.7%. Dentsu globally has a plan to slash 3400 jobs, or 8% of the non-Japanese workforce.
Johnston’s departure is the latest in a wave of redundancies across Australia’s media and marketing sector, as companies grapple with recourcing shifts from headcount to AI investment and broader technological disruption, as reported by Mumbrella.
Advertising Council Australia (ACA) CEO Tony Hale was one of several industry body leaders who spoke to Mumbrella about the unfolding situation, saying: “Every company in Australia is reviewing its business model and operations, seeking efficiencies and automation to navigate global uncertainty, technological disruption, and shifting consumer media and consumption habits.”
