OMD Melbourne’s MD Dianne Richardson steps down after less than a year
OMD Melbourne’s managing director Dianne Richardson is stepping down from the role after joining the agency nine months ago, Mumbrella can reveal.
In a statement to Mumbrella, an OMD spokesperson said: “It is a mixture of sadness and gratitude that OMD confirms Dianne Richardson will be standing down from the role of OMD Melbourne managing director to focus on her family.
Richardson is stepping down from the business to spend time with her family
“Di has had a major impact on OMD Melbourne in lifting the product output and ensuring the office’s ongoing success.”
Richardson will continue to work with the agency next year in a consultancy role.
Meanwhile, OMD’s group managing director for Queensland and Western Australia, Kenny Stewart, will oversee the Melbourne operation alongside its managing partners Antonia Glezakos, Alex Smith, and Sharon Cookson.
In December last year, Richardson returned to Australia from her previous role as UM Worldwide’s chief strategy officer in New York.
She joined UM Worldwide New York in November 2015 after previously being executive director at Starcom.
“I want to thank our OMDers for being so awesome. Whilst I’m sad to be leaving the role to focus on team Richo, I’ll continue to be a friend of OMD.
“OMD are a brilliant agency with such strong leadership and people, so I know they’ll continue to nail it,” Richardson said.
Richardson was appointed to the role after OMD Melbourne’s previous MD, Margie Reid, departed the agency after 11 years to join creative agency Thinkerbell as its first managing director.
Richardson’s departure comes three weeks after Yvette Mayer departed OMD Sydney as its managing director to focus on her essential oil business.
Meanwhile, just this week, OMD won the media planning and buying account for financial service provider, Suncorp.
OMD’s clients include Qantas, Roadshow Films, McDonald’s, Target, Beiersdorf, eHarmony, Simplot and Bacardi.
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Have noticed that a lot of women in high office have pulled the pin lately.
I am a woman and it’s starting to be quite. noticeable.
It isnt a great look. Perception or Reality?
Thoughts people?
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With so many women in senior positions leaving OMD (Margie Reid, Yvette Mayer and Dianne Richardson) it gives the impression there is a problem with women in senior management positions
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Maybe it’s because the industry has embraced equality in senior positions finally. Although women have more pressures and responsibility in all aspects of their life than men. It’s a stressful industry.
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I can ‘almost’ understand the first sweep out that happened at OMD with the appointment of the new CEO, despite its brutality. With the exception of their star player and new biz supremo, Margie of course which was a great loss. But now these are the replacements the CEO bought in that are leaving. At a guess i’d Say these very competenent senior women aren’t feeling like they have the autonomy they imagined or deserve. Especially off the back of some big pitches.
This is nothing to do with women not being able to cope with the pressures of senior roles, well not at this level at least. It could be more about culture and some higher level management styles.
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More women than men? Locally notable male departures at WPP, Dentsu, too. Can’t think of numbers off my head. However it’s difficult to disregard two female MDs leaving an agency within a month or so.
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Maybe its because OMD hire more women into senior leadership positions than anyone else…
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Seems more perception than reality – Connaghan, Simon Ryan, Paul Brooks, Toone etc all recent leavers.
2 md in 2 weeks at omd, and 2 mel md in 1 year is an odd situation. Am sure it has nothing to do with their awarded female leadership.
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Why aren’t all comments being posted?
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Hi Sensored,
Mumbrella moderates all comments before they are published for legal reasons. Often we choose not to approve comments because they are potentially libellous, are unnecessarily offensive or because we deem they’ve breached our community guidelines in some respect.
https://mumbrella.com.au/about/community-guidelines
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https://mumbrella.com.au/a-note-on-mumbrellas-comment-moderation-policy-38054
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Do you think if three blokes from an organisation left that this conversation thread would be – must be a bloke problem?
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Two MD’s leaving in the space of a week. There must be a story here about the current leadership. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
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Hilariously sexist comments in this thread. I can almost guarantee that if 2 male MD’s resigned under a male CEO, there would be no story whatsoever…. but, because we are talking about 2 females all of a sudden there’s ‘leadership issues’ and a ‘bigger story’.
Yvette is leaving the industry after 20 odd years to focus on her passion within the health space. Dianne is stepping down to spend more time with her 3 young children…. what a terribly hard decision this must have been. I commend her and have no doubt every other mum wishes they could do the same.
Side line spectators, step away from your key boards and get on with your real jobs.
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Of course here would have been speculation if two male MDs who report to the same person left within a week of each other. Of course there would be…. That’s not sexist.
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For the record, I’m not leaving OMD as a result of anything but my decision to focus on my passion. After having breast cancer 8 years ago, I’ve been feeling a pull toward holistic health and more recently, I discovered essential oils. I’ve loved working at OMD, it really is the best agency in the business. I’m just ready to try something new. Something that will help others have better health and wellness, as it has me. If you’re one of those people who could benefit from improved natural health and well-being, check out my website and learn more. http://www.yvettemayer.com.
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It’s not about male / female. It’s about two leaders in senior roles and both leaving. It’s known that when change happens like this there is normally a trend and an issue. Everyone has questioned the changes at DAN. Why not here?
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Mumbrella May charge you for advertising 🙂
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