McCann Australia ‘remains focused’ after sacking of global CEO Nick Brien

In a potentially unsettling development for McCann’s Australian operation, global boss Nick Brien has been removed from his post.

Brien, who was instrumental in the merger of McCann Australia and Smart a year ago, is to leave after less than three years as chairman and chief executive.

Though the former media agency executive has taken flack for the network losing big global accounts such as Exxon Mobil, Nescafe and Lufthansa, he was regarded as a progressive force behind the reinvention of the world’s largest agency network, and played a key role in Australia.

McCann Worldgroup Australia boss Ben Lilley told Mumbrella in a statement: “We remain focused on the work we need to do to continue to grow McCann in this market.”