Russel Howcroft is set to vacate one of the most powerful jobs in Australian advertising, Mumbrella understands.
A brief is in market to replace the prominent executive and TV pundit, who is two years and two months into the role of CEO of Y&R Brands Australia and New Zealand. Speculation has been rife for some time that he is to take on a Melbourne-based role for Channel Ten.
Howcroft joined Y&R in 2010 after a decade at Brandhouse to run a stable of agencies that includes GPY&R and Ideaworks.
Howcroft has endured mixed fortunes during his time at the helm of Y&R, with iconic agency brand The Campaign Place closing, the Sydney office of GPY&R struggling and Patts’ office in Melbourne – Howcroft’s home town – the only brand to be really firing.
He also oversaw the Australian roll out of digital agency VML in February this year.
Howcroft was unavailable for comment, as was Y&R Brands regional president Matthew Godfrey.