CEOs depart two key Sydney advertising agencies
Two leading Sydney advertising agencies, Leo Burnett Sydney and WPP AUNZ-owned creative agency WhiteGrey have lost their chief executive officers' in one week.
Leo Burnett CEO Peter Bosilkovski has resigned
Leo Burnett Sydney chief executive officer Pete Bosilkovski has resigned from his role, three years after assuming the top job. Bosilkovski has worked at Leo Burnett since 2009 first as client services director, next as managing director and finally as chief executive.
His departure comes one year after Publicis Communications restructured its local operation, appointing a new management team, including new reporting lines. Under the changes, Saatchi & Saatchi chief executive officer Mike Rebelo, became CEO of Publicis Communications ANZ, while Leo Burnett Melbourne chief executive Melinda Geertz became CEO for Leo Burnett Australia, while, Bosilkovski’s role remained the same.
The announcement came on the same day it emerged that Miles Joyce, the chief executive officer of WhiteGrey has left the creative agency. Joyce’s departure was the result of a management decision, according to a statement from WPP AUNZ.
“Following a discussion with Miles Joyce about the direction for WhiteGrey moving forward, we have agreed that a change of leadership is required and as such Miles has left the business."
Joyce’s departure comes just weeks after his joint-CEO Paul Worboys resigned from the agency. At the time it was reported that Worboys was departing for family reasons.
Joyce and Worboys became joint CEO last year when WPP AUNZ merged The White Agency led by Joyce with Grey Group Australia, which was led by Worboys. The merged agency was called WhiteGrey.
WPP AUNZ’s executive chairman of media investment and specialist businesses John Steedman will assume the role of acting CEO with the help of group client director, Kate Walker.
Both agencies have already commenced the search for new CEOs.