Joint managing director of PHD Australia, Lucy Formosa Morgan is leaving the agency, as fellow MD, Stuart Bailey gets promoted to the role of chief operating officer.
National CEO, Mark Jarrett revealed the news as part of a number of changes to the agency’s executive leadership team, which includes the promotion of Stephanie Douglas–Neal to Sydney MD and Simon Lawson to Melbourne MD.
“Stuart’s promotion was reflective of his efforts in leading the agency through a difficult 18 months, while also maintaining close relationships with key clients, including seeing a number of long-term clients extend their relationship with PHD,” said Jarrett.
Stuart Bailey
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Bailey joined Omnicom Media Group in 2012 at OMD, before joining PHD in 2017 as chief digital officer, before moving into the managing director role in 2020. As chief operating officer, he will lead the agency and build “deeper business partnerships with clients across PHD Australia’s unique data, technology and digital offerings.”
Bailey also leads OMG’s specialist agency, Trio, which looks after PepsiCo.
Bailey said: “I am incredibly proud of how PHD has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. A large part of this is the breadth and depth of talent we have across all business areas. I am excited to take up this new challenge and work with MJ, and the rest of the team to continue, and even surpass, that success moving forward.”
Lucy Formosa Morgan
Formosa Morgan leaves PHD after 15 years at Omnicom, having joined PHD in 2011. The agency said she has been “instrumental in developing PHD’s market-leading investment team, while driving consistent commercial success across the business”. Her future movements have not been disclosed.
Stephanie Douglas–Neal will assume the tole of MD of PHD Sydney, continuing to lead the office, as well as continuing to oversee the people and development team at PHD. PHD said that she has been integral to the team delivering “an outstanding program of initiatives designed to look after the health and wellbeing of PHD Australia’s entire staff”.
Simon Lawson
In Melbourne, general manager Simon Lawson has been promoted to managing director also, after four years in his current role. PHD said that during this time, Lawson has doubled the size of the Melbourne office, also adding clients Asahi, Spotlight Retail Group, Swisse and recently Tennis Australia to the portfolio, while also maintaining relationships with ANZ, Priceline, 7-Eleven and Bakers Delight.
Douglas-Neal
Lawson said: “PHD Melbourne’s success is largely down to the talented group of individuals that I get to work with every day: I’m excited to continue our journey in my new capacity as Managing Director.”
Douglas-Neal said: “I am so proud of what PHD has built in the past few years. I’m passionate about this business, our people, and building strong and deep partnerships with our clients. It is a huge privilege for me to be able to continue grow here, and to work with the leadership team to take the Sydney agency into what will be an exciting 2022 for us.
Final moves into the executive leadership team include national head of trading, Joanna Barnes, national head of new business and marketing, Kate Milligan, and Mitchell Long, national head of strategy.
PHD was given a fresh brand identity globally this week, in order to reflect its ‘Make the Leap’ philosophy. It has been implemented across all of PHD’s 100+ markets.