Jon Bird takes reins at VMLY&R as Aden Hepburn steps down
WPP AUNZ has named Jon Bird as head of VMLY&R Australia and New Zealand after current CEO Aden Hepburn announced he would step down.
Currently VMLY&R’s global chief retail and commerce officer, Bird moved to the US in 2014 to take the role of managing director, retail and shopper of Labstore, Y&R’s global retail and shopper marketing practice.
Bird returns to Australia after five years in the US with VMLY&R’s retail practice
Are we expected to believe that two CEOs willingly resigned weeks apart and only months into a merger?
I wanted to be the first to call BS on this but you beat me to it.
Given the collapse of IdeaWorks and complete lack of success of labstore this looks really weird…
Best of luck to Pete and Aden, good blokes.
Congrats on a killer run Aden. You were an inspirational leader.
Wow. Am guessing there is a true story behind this spin.
Been a pleasure working with you Aden and look forward to seeing where you resurface and working with you again.
Jon is one of the nicest, most experienced and talented people in the business. A major coup for VMLY&R in the region.
Nah
He ain’t Aden
Feels like the once fabled Y&R is headed in the same direction as the once fabled Campaign Palace…
@ Darwin Rules except Y & R was last fabled in about 1975, and later reduced to Asches. Along with with Mattingly when they completely cocked that up.
This is not a good move
Sad day for all of us who sacrificed so much in the name of bleeding blue for the cause led by Aden. I know I will forever and always #bleedblue
I’m outta here.
the spin is real. [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] from all reports it’s a sh#$ show in there with a few big pieces of biz on the rocks, if not already gone. Aden whilst a strong digital leader [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] so not surprised at all that they’ve pulled in a wise old hat to steady this ship.
Expect client and staff walkouts in the next 6 months.
A once great company turned toxic. Such a shame. The merger with Y&R has been a death blow.
Aden: you are a phenomenal, inspirational leader loved by your entire staff. You deserve better.
“loved by your entire staff”.
Wow. Getting the money’s worth out of the hired PR agency.
I don’t work there and never have but [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
WPP losing more great talent … theme of 2019?
WPP’s core competence.
[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] . He was good at creating but [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
Super short sighted by global, I don’t think they understand the Aden affect… This is going to cause mass loss on profit and moral… Sydney VML is now dead… Y&R fucked it
congratulations and good luck Jon
Didn’t IdeaWorks and Labstore both fold?
The appointment sounds like a step backwards, particularly for VML. Y&R was a struggling brand for well over a decade before the merger. Makes no sense to remove a key lieutenant of the successful entity and ship someone with no connection back. There will be some livid clients.
Is anyone from the DFR pitch team still there?
I might take that job offer now the [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]
Making the announcement on a Friday afternoon (also before a long weekend) is another signal. (In The West Wing they used to call it ‘take out the trash day’ and reserve it for the news they hoped no one would notice.)
To one talented guy who took VML Sydney to where it is today . Good luck in your future endeavours. VML will really miss your expertise.
No-where in this announcement does WPP thank Aden for the 10+ years he’s spent building businesses for them.
And Bird, instead of thanking him, just makes it about himself and how Aden was his choice. Really?!
It’s pathetic that a business built on people’s cant actually thank the people that built it.
To Bird, I say hold me closer, aisle dancer.
Totally agree with your comment. For someone who worked his entire young life away for this company to bring it where it is today he didn’t even here from the boss Jon Cook when he resigned . Not even a thanks for all his hard work or a good luck for his future .
Birdy will do a good job. I love Aden too but too many are conflating the apparent shafting of Aden with an under appreciation of what Jon can do. Remember that Jon had the foresight to back Aden in his first proper gig in Adland.
Sorry @James the proof is in the pudding and this move is a sign of defeat. No new biz wins of any note under this personage in the past, at least not without a massive discounting of earn rates. Maybe ask the (other) creatives who worked there for some real-world opinions?
I think you may be alluding to a different James my friend. I have worked with and respect both gentlemen and wish them all the very best. Thanks.
The smartest thing Aden always did was surround himself with some very, very smart people – for that alone he is to be commended and respected. They’re the major reason VML went from strength to strength. No man is an island and while Aden’s departure will affect the business to some extent, if the rest of the SLT are retained they will no doubt benefit from Jon’s experience.
Except we’ve all gone too…
This is bullshit.
There will be no one like Aden.
[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]