Publicis management shuffles continue with new leadership appointments in Queensland
Publicis has continued the resetting of its business operations in Australia with the appointment of a new managing director and a new executive creative director for the Queensland arm of the business.
Simone Waugh and Ryan Petie will be the new leaders at PublicisQ
The Queensland agency group has also rebranded as PublicisQ.
Simone Waugh, head of strategy planning at Publicis will take on the role of MD, having worked across the agency’s departments and also spending a decade on the client-side working in marketing roles in financial services.
After more than six months without a creative leader following the departure of Andy Ward, Publicis Melbourne creative director Ryan Petie will take on the role of executive creative director for the agency.
The appointments in Queensland come just a week after Publicis revamped its national leadership, with Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Michael Rebelo named Publicis Communications Group CEO and Melinda Geertz named as CEO of Leo Burnett Australia.
Publicis Australia CEO Andrew Baxter said the appointments were part of a change in the way the company approached business in Queensland.
“Both Ryan and Simone have huge energy and insights into the Queensland market and instinctively understand the opportunities for Queensland-based businesses both at home, across Australia and internationally,” Baxter said.
“They also have the resources of the Publicis worldwide network at their disposal to support their clients.”
Waugh takes over from veteran Brisbane MD Rob Kent, who steps down after 17 years leading the agency.
“Both Simone and Ryan are home-grown and exceptional talents and I am confident they will be highly successful as a management pair,” Kent said.
“Simone has been groomed as my successor over several years and I wholeheartedly support her appointment to the role. There is no-one more capable and deserving for the job.”
Current clients at the 50-person-strong agency include Sanofi, Suncorp, AirAsia, Griffith University, Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland and Footlocker.
Awesome news. Two great people. Well done and we’ll deserved. And Rob has done an amazing job to lead the one agency for that long. Best of luck to all.
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Here, here. A rarely elegant progression. Nice job all round.
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