GM departs in Clemenger Proximity shake-up
Eight staff have been made redundant as part of a restructure of Clemenger BBDO and sister direct agency Clemenger Proximity.
The shake-up sees Andy Pontin, MD of Clemenger BBDO Sydney, also become CEO of Proximity Sydney. Proximity GM Michelle Holland is leaving.
“As more and more of our clients use the agency across all disciplines, it makes sense to align the leadership of Clemenger Proximity with Clemenger BBDO. For us this is something of a natural progression, enabling us to avoid duplication and reduce our costs as the soft economy continues to bite,” Pontin said.
Meanwhile, Gareth Collins has been promoted to client services director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney.
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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While regretable for all of those involved, we can expect more such streamlining of the delivery of agency disciplines – as we slowly emerge from recessionary conditions, over the next 12 months.
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Hi Peter
As a client the streamlining is very noticeable but it would be more appropiate to call it the dumbing down of agencies. More “senior” account managers with not a whole lot of experience to draw upon. The depth of experience has gone out of agencies and in tough times I’m missing the solid contribution of senior agency people.
CEOs wearing multiple hats does nothing more than raise questions of an agency’s ability to cope. If clients are receiving less shouldn’t they be paying less?
I see that Andy Pontin has been quick to assure the market that as well as wearing the two hats he’ll be hiring more senior account managers.
More dissatisfied clients and more pitches means more business for you Peter!
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Hi Client,
Given Andy’s excellent pedigree in direct as well as mainstream, I would have thought it would have been seen as a positive move–someone not just talking about integrating an Agency’s offering, but structuring to provide it as well. There will be more of it, and not just driven by the financial realities that many clients control. And in terms of the ‘dumbing down” and lack of ‘senior people’, clients control that Agenda by providing for them in their retainers. The talent is available, and in many cases ‘waiting’, but has to be funded. I’m sure if you went to your Agency with a funded request for more senior people working on your business, they would happily provide them!
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Can you actually believe any of what has been said here. What about the 8 people retrenched. I hope they were treated well.
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