WPP AUNZ makes comms roles redundant following restructure
A restructure in WPP AUNZ’s communications and marketing team has resulted in the roles of Sandra Renowden and Rebecca Tilly made redundant.
The change comes five months after the network hired Toby Hemming into the new role of head of communications and marketing, working closely with CEO Jens Monsees and becoming responsible for all marketing programs including the communications efforts behind the group’s transformation plan.
Tilly has left WPP AUNZ after 13 years
Tilly and Renowden job shared in the position of group content and external communications managers. Tilly’s tenure with the group dates back to 2008, while Renowden joined in 2012. Together, Renowden and Tilly worked through the 2016 merger of WPP and STW.
A statement from WPP AUNZ said: “As part of a reorganisation of WPP AUNZ’s Communications and Marketing function, we have restructured a number of roles within the team.
“As part of this process, we can confirm Rebecca Tilly and Sandra Renowden have left their positions in group content and external communications.”
Sandra Renowden is also leaving after 10 years
Renowden and Tilly were responsible for the communications across the entirety of WPP AUNZ, apart from media investment company Group M which is led by group communication director Rosie Baker, and MediaCom’s APAC communications director, Bebhinn Carey.
Monsees’ focus since joining WPP AUNZ in 2019 has been streamlining the business by reducing the number of agency brands and integrating services to bolster the tech and data capabilities.
Early last year, Monsees installed a campus model in each of the capital cities – except from Sydney and Melbourne – designed to “bring our brands closer together to forge greater collaboration and help us better solves our clients’ challenges.”
Monsees’ former colleague at BMW in Germany was also hired as head of corporate strategy.
Last year also saw the globally implemented mergers of AKQA and Grey – or WhiteGrey in Australia – under the AKQA Group umbrella, and Geometry joining VMLY&R as VMLY&R Commerce.
In November, WPP plc launched a bid to takeover the remaining 38.5% of shares that it does not own in WPP AUNZ. The scheme implementation deed was entered in late December, with WPP plc offering a price of A$0.70 per share in cash. The shareholders’ vote on the deal is expected to occur in April.
Tilly and Renowden have been contacted by Mumbrella for comment.
