OMD nabs Atomic 212’s Ian Czencz and promotes Gavin Gibson
OMD has promoted Gavin Gibson to the role of chief strategy officer for APAC, and appointed Ian Czencz as chief strategy officer for Australia.
Czencz was managing director of Atomic 212. He left in March with chairman of the agency, Barry O’Brien, noting Czencz wanted to return to his first love: strategy.
Gavin Gibson (left) and Ian Czencz
With all the awards won for the great work in the last couple of years it’s no wonder Gibson has been promoted. There are so many case studies of killers strategies coming from OMD I wouldn’t know which one to commend first. If there is any justice in the world he’ll be in line for the global CSO role soon. I suspect all the Australian clients, Gibson touches on a daily basis, will be very sad to say goodbye to this business changing strategist. Very big shoes for Czencz to fill. Telstra, Coles, Maccas, Suncorp and Village Roadshow have all experienced the strategic fire power of Gibson in the last couple of years – some of the market’s most important clients – lucky APAC
@Notsurprising has really nailed it. This is a match made in heaven.
Penny the Pirate, McDonalds becomes Maccas and Ready for Take Off for Qantus
– all iconic.
Credit where it’s due , Penny the Pirate was Peita Pacey not Gavin.
You have a good memory. It’s a while ago now.
It was actually Saatchis. OMD bought some spots.
I didn’t know that.
What about changing McDonalds to
Maccas?
Maybe some of the more recent case studies / awards would be better – I can’t seem to find them
Think it was really Saatchi’s work…
OMD need help in the region and its no surprise to see them taking from their best global market to deliver some
Congratulations to both of you legends!
Well done Gavin. All the hard work on with Penny the Pirate and Maccas has finally paid off. Congrats!
Adored by his team and past staff
Indispensable to his clients who would want him cloned if possible.
A humble leader and enabler of great brave work who backs his team
No surprise apac wants the best of the best
It’s going to hit the local clients very hard. Coles, Maccas, Telstra & Suncorp etc will need a lot of extra strategic resource to fill the Gibson shaped hole.
It’s hardly definitive, but Aimee above references the past two years, but a Google search looks like Macca’s name change was 2013….
So maybe that wasn’t Gavin either?
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=mcdonald%27s+name+change+to+maccas&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-au&client=safari
Looks like it was DDB’s idea.
http://www.adnews.com.au/adnew.....to-macca-s
Can’t believe it’s over 6 years ago.
Some really lovely comments and thank you. While amazing pieces of work I can’t lay claim to either Penny the Pirate ( that was the super talented Peita Pacey and Saatchi) and the Maccas name change was before my time.
Gavin is a master strategist. A true leader
At OMD we call Gavin G-force he’s that powerful. Will be missed!
Onya, Gav!
One word – delighted!
It must have been hard to persuade the clients to let Gibson go – they would have been up in arms!
Double masterstroke. Strategic powerhouse. Form an orderly queue AU and APAC strategists of note.
Penny the Pirate and McDonalds to Maccas weren’t on Gibson’s watch. Also both driven by the creative agency (on closer inspection)
I Can’t locate the award winning work from the last couple of years then. A couple of awards for people and culture but nothing significant for a piece of work.
Any ideas?
I can see why Ian would join OMD. To get away from me no doubt!
Just kidding. He operates at a strong enterprise level where enterprise thinking can be appreciated and applied. There are not really that many outlets for this. UM a few years ago but definitely OMD today.
It was great working with Ian. I’ll miss his kindness, gentleness and understanding as a leader. He is rubber like in his ability to fit all gaps and be a chameleon within a changing business. We need more of this type of reptile quality.
All the best dudarello