Rebecca Tos, Merkle’s ANZ MD, steps down, with iProspect’s MD to lead both DAN businesses
Rebecca Tos has stepped down as Australia and New Zealand managing director of the Dentsu Aegis Network’s data-driven marketing agency, Merkle. iProspect’s national managing director, Oliver Rapson, has taken control of both businesses.
A Dentsu spokesperson said the expansion of Rapson’s role will “simplify and optimise their complementary capabilities – elevating the product and enhancing client experience”.
Tos took up the position in June last year
The spokesperson also confirmed Tos, who had been with DAN since 2012, made the decision to leave at the end of last year and added: “We would like to thank her for her commitment and contribution to the business.”
Tos announced her departure, after less than a year in the managing director role, on LinkedIn, explaining that she’s moving on to an undisclosed venture.
“I’m truly honoured to have led such remarkable businesses and teams of people in that time and I’m proud of all that we achieved as a collective – banded together by old school RnB, united values and a vision that we all believed in – not to mention, bloody hard work,” Tos wrote.
“The memories we created and the individual and business growth was exceptional. I’m so thankful for the opportunities – it was also a time where I welcomed my two daughters, following 7 [seven] years of infertility and loss. So many profound & life changing moments in life and business … and Columbus was my business baby and I treated every inch of it like my own.
“Yet, the achievements to date belong to each Columbian who made it great. Thank you to my team – you put your heart and soul into every day for our awesome clients. You are quite simply, some of the smartest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Thank you to my clients for trusting us with your business, my colleagues who provided unwavering support and also the partners who helped shape our journey. This next chapter is an exciting one.”
Tos was previously CEO of Columbus ANZ, one of Merkle’s local business units. While CEO of Columbus, Tos also served in a short term project role as DAN’s chief marketing officer. Before joining the holding group, she had stints as GM of IPG Mediabrands’, and at News Digital Media, and Ninemsn. In 2009, she and her husband bought a bistro, which she worked at outside of business hours and on the weekend for almost three years.
Her exit is the latest in a string DAN has experienced over the past 12 months, most of which were wrapped up in CEO Henry Tajer’s 2019 restructure, which ended when DAN’s regional leadership team ousted Tajer – and his CFO Reg Davidson – in November.
Merkle launched in the Australian market in 2018, seeing Columbus rebranded to Columbus, a Merkle company.
Brittney Rigby was Mumbrella's deputy managing editor - news and analysis. She left Mumbrella in April 2021.
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So is Columbus finally dead now?
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dead and buried!
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Oli is a great leader and wonderful human. DAN are lucky to have him.
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Rebecca is a world class operator and did amazing things during her time at DAN. Wherever she’s headed next will hugely benefit from her contribution.
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yeah sure…
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Bec Tos is a great leader, a brilliant mind and a wonderful human being. I wish her every success.
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Maybe iPro can win some awards or get some market firsts now that they have the Columbus team on board. Columbus was always the stronger agency in Australia and was consistently more profitable than iProspect AU.
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“In 2009, she* and her husband bought a bistro…”
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Good catch Pedant, this has been fixed.
Thanks,
Hannah – Mumbrella
Not sure if their website is up to date, but last award Columbus won was in 2015? Others listed since are shortlistings only?
Columbus and iPro are often compared, but their largest clients look very different. Global versus locally lead clients/brands operate differently, which means contrasts in ways of working and differences in margins. Innovation can also be looked at from a different lens, and profitability in the group can become a bigger priority than the share of an individual brand.
Oli has experienced all these different angles and been with the group through years of changes and transitions, so sure he will do a great job.
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Not up to date. All Columbus brand marketing was de-prioritised in anticipation of the complete Merkle rebrand, for all the hot air that ended up being.
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