Y&R Australia CEO Phil McDonald departs the agency
Phil McDonald, the chief executive of Y&R Australia, has departed the WPP AUNZ-owned agency.
WPP's Australia and New Zealand business is on the hunt for a new CEO for Y&R
McDonald leaves the agency after two years in the role and 11 years with the agency.
A statement from WPP AUNZ CEO Mike Connaghan said, “Phil leaves the agency in good shape, and we thank him for his commitment and hard work since taking on the CEO role two years ago. He took the reins at a tough time for the business, but has played an important part in growing both its capabilities and solid client offering. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”
McDonald said of his departure, "In my time as regional CEO, we have reinvented our business across five cities, won awards all over the world, attracted some great new clients and some of the best talent in the industry. The agency is well set up and after 11 years at Y&R, it is the right time for me to move on to a completely new opportunity, which I will announce in the coming weeks."
WPP AUNZ said a replacement would be announced soon. In the interim, Y&R offices will be led by their respective managing directors, who will report directly to WPP AUNZ.
McDonald is the latest in a string of chief executives to depart from management roles at agencies owned by WPP AUNZ. His departure follows the exit of joint CEOs of WhiteGrey Miles Joyce and Paul Worboys, as well as Kantar CEO Tania Kullmann, who left the agency "to focus on her family".