Warwick Heathwood latest senior exec to leave WhiteGrey, after just five months as strategy director
WhiteGrey strategy director Warwick Heathwood has departed the business after just five months in the role.
Heathwood was appointed to the WPP agency after moving back to Australia from New York, where he was the head of strategy at SET Creative.
Heathwood has previously worked at TBWA Sydney, Isobar and Leo Burnett.
At the time of Heathwood’s appointment Lee Simpson, CEO of WhiteGrey Australia, said: “Warwick brings a breadth of experience to the fold; a global perspective combined with a local point of view, experience ranging from brand work through to experiential and work that has been recognised at the most prestigious effectiveness awards globally. We believe his strategic leadership will add to our mix of specialist practitioners here at WhiteGrey as we continue to grow.”
A statement from WhiteGrey to Mumbrella said: “WhiteGrey can confirm that Warwick Heathwood has left the agency and we wish him well in his future endeavours. An announcement about his replacement will be made in due course.”
In May 2017, WPP merged The White Agency and Grey Group to create White Grey. The move preceded a string of departures including joint CEOs Miles Joyce and Paul Worboys, Sydney MD Andrew Davenport, Melbourne MD Claudia McInerney and ECD Anthony Moss.
August 13 update: WPP has offered an additional comment from Simpson. It says: “whiteGREY has grown revenue 25% in 12 months through organic growth, adding new clients (in categories including airlines, energy, fin services and telco) and offering additional services. As our client mix and offering evolves so has our talent. We wish any whiteGREY folk well as they tackle new opportunities and welcome new faces in technology, creativity, performance media and fresh leadership in Melbourne with Katie Firth and Garett and Joe.”
And apparently extremely well-respected GAD Claire Manning has also left after over 20 years.
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Tension creates toxicity – The Juniorfication of Agency Management is exemplified when CEOs can not see opportunities in what they perceive as threats. More to come in departures from WG I’m sure.
Thanks for the tip. You were correct – https://mumbrella.com.au/claire-manning-departs-whitegrey-after-22-years-593225
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
There’s a lot of shit going on with WPP agencies lately. As a former insider I can see why. Toxicity runs through its veins. No wonder they can’t hold good people, have a lawsuit, haven’t produced anything decent in some time and are absent from the new biz announcements. Meanwhile, Mark Read announces profits are up. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
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Warwick is a superstar planner and will find somewhere better than a boring result of a WPP merger.
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