IPG’s Golin replaces CEO Fred Cook with a ‘CEO Team’
Interpublic Group (IPG) agency Golin has replaced its chief executive Fred Cook with a ‘CEO Team’ comprising Jonathan Hughes, Matt Neale and Gary Rudnick.
Golin
The three will share responsibilities and report into Cook, who will become chairman, and IPG’s chief financial officer Frank Mergenthaler.
The unusual management shake-up has been dubbed 'CEO+' and will come into effect 1 January 2017.
In a press release, Golin described the model as a way to “enable the coverage of much more ground than any one person could ever hope, inclusive of client relationships, new business development and employee engagement. Every client, employee, prospect and issue will benefit from the personal attention, passion and engagement of the CEO.”
The agency has 54 offices worldwide, housing some 1,400 staff, and counts Frito-Lay, Hyatt, Jaguar and Johnson & Johnson brand Tylenol among its clients.
“Gary, Jon and Matt have worked together as regional presidents for the past four years,” explained Cook.
“Now as CEO’s, we will maximise their individual strengths and expertise across the whole of Golin, while continuing to leverage their strong relationship with each other.”
Each will focus on a different area of the business. Hughes has been given the title '+International' and has been charged with building the agency’s global footprint and partnerships, whilst maintaining with his regional responsibilities for Asia where it has 17 offices.
As 'CEO+Vision', Neale will oversee new products, thought leadership and agency reputation, in addition to his regional responsibilities for EMEA and New York.
Finally, Rudnick will lead the business aspects of the agency including finance, HR and client management as 'CEO+Operations', in addition to maintaining his regional responsibilities for the Americas.
Golin, which this year celebrated its 60th anniversary, has performed strongly over the past year as global revenue reached in the region of $200m. Most notably this year. has been its purchase of The Brooklyn Brothers for a reported £35m.