Gregorio elevated to group CEO of Havas, Bennett to depart CEO gig at Euro RSCG, Sydney

Tom Moult, chairman of the Havas group of companies in Australia, announced today a restructure of the group in Australia, whilst actively maintaining their two separate advertising agency brands.

Anthony Gregorio (pictured left with Moult, far left), currently CEO of The Furnace, has been elevated to group CEO.  This position will see Gregorio head up Euro RSCG, The Furnace, Red Agency and The Face. Tony Singleton, head of strategy planning with The Furnace will become the Sydney agency’s new managing director.  Andrew Knox, presently group head at Euro RSCG, has been promoted to general manager of Euro and Trudi New has been appointed the head of account management and new business.

As a result of the restructure Paul Bennett, CEO of Euro RSCG Australia, has left the agency.  

“These changes within the group will lead to a streamlining of thebusinesses in Australia and a management structure that includeslong-serving executives.  We’ll have fewer people working on ourorganisation and more people working on our clients’ businesses.Anthony has done an amazing job as CEO of The Furnace and it was aperfect fit for him to take on the Group CEO role.  I have worked withAnt for over 10 years.  He has a natural ability to connect with hisclients and staff and possesses all the right credentials to lead thegroup to future success,” says Moult.

Gregorio’s career in the industry spans 18 years.  He has been CEO ofThe Furnace for the past 3 years.  Prior to this he was managingdirector of The Moult Agency for four years.  He first worked with Tom in1993 at Euro RSCG Sydney.

Gregorio claims that over the past 12 months The Furnace has enjoyed anexcellent new business track record winning Procter & Gamble,Hamilton Island, Merisant (Equal and PureVia sweetener brands),Olympus, Hard Yakka, MEGT and REST Superannuation.

Says Gregorio: “I am very excited about the chance I have been given.  I have anexcellent team to support me, people I have worked with and trust. It’s an interesting time for the industry, with many challenges butalso exceptional opportunities, and I believe that we have greatagencies within the group that are able to attract both different typesof client and talent.”

Singleton has been in the industry for the past 20 years having startedin the media department of Bartle Bogle Hegarty.  He moved into accountmanagement before finally finding his niche in strategy in 2002.  Tonyhas been with the group in Australia since 1999 having worked for TheMoult Agency and The Furnace.  Before moving to Australia he spent fouryears at Euro RSCG KLP, London.

“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge,” says Singleton.  “Iget to pick up the reins at an agency that already has an amazingculture and a highly attractive group of clients.  And I’m still ableto tap into the wisdom and expertise of both Ant and Tom,” he added.

Andrew Knox joined Euro RSCG in 2006 as group account director and hasbeen responsible for Reckitt Benckiser, Sydney Water, Volvo, CancerCouncil, Sanofi Aventis amongst other accounts.  He is a strongstrategist who brings to the agency environment a solid understandingand empathy for client business management.  He began his career on theclient side in the UK and is a seasoned marketing professional with 19years experience in the advertising industry.

Trudi New joined Euro 12 months ago as group head and during that timehas been instrumental in motivating those under her leadership inmanagement practice, brand strategy and account management training. Trudi was also one of the key members of the team responsible for theJacobs Creek global win for Euro this year.

Says Moult: “We are looking towards a strong year ahead for the groupacross all of our brands. It will be an exciting time – a time ofchange, challenge and growth. Also included in the restructure processwe have made the decision to relocate The Furnace across to NorthSydney, in separate offices, so that we maintain two distinct brands,but to allow for easier group communication and rationalisation of nonclient-facing back-end services.”