Mark Coad to leave OMD for CHE Melbourne
Mark Coad, boss of media agency OMD, has in the last few moments told staff that he is to step down to return home to Melbourne as CEO of ad agency CHE.
Managing partners Peter Horgan and Leigh Terry will take the helm as joint national managing directors at the Sydney-based agency. Their promotions come almost exactly three years after they were both promoted by Coad to managing partners shortly after he became boss of the agency.
Coad – who makes the move at the end of the year – has steered the agency through a successful period of growth during which it has won new business and build up a stable senior management team.
CHE is part of the Omnicom-aligned Clemenger Group, which also has a stake in OMD, and Coadwill remain on the Omincomboard in Australia, representing Clemenger’s interests.
Mumbrella understands that Coad’smove is driven by his desire to return home to Melbourne.
Barry Cupples – Asia Pacific CEO for Omnicom Media Group – said: “We thank Mark for his achievements at OMD and wish him much success at CHE – he’s made a superb contribution to OMD’s business and helped build a great team. Leigh and Peter have been intrinsically involved in the running of OMD so this is a very natural succession plan that will ensure we continue on our successful path.”
Coad said: “It’s been a very tough decision for me, but it’s time for a new challenge, whilst thinking about my future and my family in Melbourne. The prospect of using my media background to encourage integrated thinking within a creative agency – combined with the opportunity to represent the next generation of leadership within the Clemenger Group is a tremendous challenge.”
Martin Griffin, managing director of CHE, will become Chairman. CHE Chairman Ron Barnacle will continues as Chairman of Clemenger Brisbane and will assume a wider role across the Clemenger Group.
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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Ah, so Melbourne is really a better to live than Sydney afterall.
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Anyone got the number for a good removalist?
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didnt realise you’d moved anything up here, other than a toothbrush and bad dress sense?
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He’s planning to totally re-do his Carnegie home.
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Finally the industry sees the light. With the sensibility of a media man at the helm we’ll see an end to washing powder ads set in Tahiti, double page magazine ads, 60 second radio commercials and the greatest creative folly of all, referring to TVC’s as “films”
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Mark, you might want to try Wridgways
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Gee I wonder if Coady could make another brain dead move for CHE like he did with OMD Brisvegas!!?? Any cheerleaders with a bad business sense you could make the new MD down in Melbourne Mark? Yeah, best to leave OMD before all the clients & staff of Brisbane commence more legal action!
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