Group M installs Steedman to head Australian operations, while COO Ewing departs
Group M’s former Asia-Pacific CEO, John Steedman, has returned to the WPP media agency group in a full time role as Australia’s first chairman and chief executive.
Steedman, who finished his two day a week consulting role for Group M last month, will now work across Mediacom, Mindshare, Mediaedge:cia, Maxus and search marketing agency Outrider.
Mark Patterson Group M Asia-Pacific CEO, said: “Once I’d worked out we needed a very senior, market-respected Australian with the particular style and personality to fit our own business needs and those of our clients it was a no brainer that Steady was the perfect candidate for the job.
“With James Greet in place from June in MindShare we have a fresh and first class group of agency leaders across the board. With Steady leading the team backed by our trading head in Group M, James Parkinson, I truly believe we have the ‘dream team’ of senior management in the Australian market.”
A very good move
No mention of jeff ewing.in the “senior management” team
(Mumbrella adds: Now updated…)
Is Steady now the token Aussie?
Does he now report into Patterson?
Wonder whether he’ll give his mate Petrpolous a job?
I guess the boys need someone to organise golf
More so than any other recent change, this is the one that will make a difference and give the agencies the best possible chance of getting back to what made them successful in the first place.