Peter Horgan surfaces as co-principal and group CEO of Joy

September 3, 2025 10:08

Omnicom Media Group’s former ANZ chief executive officer (CEO), Peter Horgan, has been appointed group CEO and co-principal at Joy.

Horgan, an industry veteran with deep roots at Omnicom, will boost the profile of the full-service Sydney-based indie Joy. The press release announcing his appointment said his remit will cover the agency’s fully integrated offers, creative, media, brand and performance.

“JOY have invested in a truly connected proposition to help maximise client outcomes in a way we can be proud of,” Horgan was quoted as saying in the release. “I plan to use my profile and experience as an accelerant for JOY, its clients, and its people.”

Horgan joined OMG in July 2016 as its ANZ CEO. Before then, he worked at OMD Australia — first, as its managing director from October 2009 to March 2011, and then its CEO from March 2011 to October 2016.

He’s also served as managing partner and executive director of trading at the media agency, and was the chair of the Media Federation of Australia for over a decade.

Despite Horgan’s holdco experience, Joy’s co-founder Simon Rush said the agency isn’t interested in recreating that type of business model. Instead, it wants to grow rapidly from “key investments, particularly in digital and data capability”.

Peter Horgan

“While we’re not looking to recreate a holdco, we are looking to rapidly accelerate our growth on the back of some key investments, particularly in digital and data capability,” Rush said in the same release.

“We’re particularly excited about the difference he will make for our clients and our people. We couldn’t think of a better person to lead our ambitious growth plans than Horgs.”

Horgan’s appointment comes in the wake of a slew of hiring for the agency. At the end of July 2025, Dan Brown entered the business as its head of activation and performance, while Matthew Keegan and Philip Pollock joined as partners at the end of May.

Joy has delivered campaigns for the Australian Olive Oil Association and AMP Bank Go this year. It also won the media account of sports betting platform, Picklebet. Coincidentally, the agency has also secured Mecca as a client — the beauty retailer was founded by Horgan’s sister, Jo Horgan.

“The agency has added high level capabilities and connections in performance to complement its existing media, creative and brand strengths, making it a serious scale-up opportunity” Horgan later said in the release.

“The team has a very ambitious agenda for the agency and its clients, plus a renewed sense of energy and urgency. Independents are on the rise, and they’re a whole new challenge for me.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what a freer, more entrepreneurial model can achieve for clients.”

Horgan will begin his role on October 1.