Rory Heffernan, Atomic 212’s first employee, appointed acting-national MD
Mumbrella can report Rory Heffernan, the first-ever employee of independent Australian media agency, Atomic 212, has been promoted to acting national managing director.
Current group MD, Claire Fenner who was promoted into the role just over a year ago and is now on maternity leave. The agency said that she will return after 12 months.
Heffernan was promoted to Melbourne general manager in 2019, then taking on the lead role in the Melbourne office when Fenner was promoted from her role of Melbourne managing director last year.
Heffernan has climbed his way through the Atomic ranks
Founder and chairman of the agency, Barry O’Brien said that it is a great story for Heffernan himself and for Atomic 212.
“James Dixon hired him as Atomic’s first employee and from here he has grown enormously within the business.
“Rory is highly intelligent and motivated, great people person and manager, understands business, has an incredible digital and data background but has taken on learning and understanding all facets of media to be of true value to clients, Atomic 212 and his own career.
“Rory is a gem of a human being!”
O’Brien
On the promotion, Heffernan told Mumbrella: “Atomic has been a huge part of my life for the last 12 years and I’ve had the unique privilege of helping this independent agency grow to be one of the country’s biggest and best, so I’m over the moon to step into this role. I’m enormously proud of the people and clients I get to work with every day.”
First hired in 2010 as an SEO analyst at the agency’s foundation in Sydney, this is Heffernan’s sixth promotion at Atomic. He moved to Melbourne in 2013, again as the office’s first employee when he was appointed into an account director role. He will remain in Melbourn in the national role.
Fenner joined the agency in 2014 from Carat, and during her time has helped the agency steadily grow its client list and billings.
The Melbourne office now has 53 staff, with Atomic having 130 employees nationally.
Atomic 212 is one of Australia’s largest independents, with a client list that includes BMW, Bupa, BWS, Origin Energy, NSW Government, and the NT Government.
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Calum Jaspan was news editor at Mumbrella, based in Melbourne. He was also the producer and host of the Mumbrellacast. He left Mumbrella in May 2023.
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