Mike Daniels to MD post at Ogilvy Sydney; Jhonnie Blampied to head of strategy, digital CD Chris James joins core management group

Mike Daniels (pictured), managing partner and head of strategy will take up the managing director role of Ogilvy & Mather Sydney. In a move that has been in the planning pipeline for some time, Daniels will assume responsibility for all the non-PR Ogilvy companies in Sydney, including Ogilvy Sydney, OgilvyOne and Neo@Ogilvy. 

Replacing Daniels as head of strategy will be Jhonnie Blampied (below left), the former CEO and chairman of DDB Australia who joined Ogilvy Sydney in October last year.

Stuart O’Brien will continue as CEO of Ogilvy Sydney, where he willmaintain key client relationships and lead a high level consulting teamwithin the agency. 

“The time is now right to change some of the ways we run things inorder to give an even greater focus on delivering great work that worksfor our clients,” O’Brien said.

 “We’ve had a great year in 2009 and are looking to build on thatsuccess. We believe in a very hands-on approach to the running of ourbusiness and I will remain deeply involved with our product andclients. At Ogilvy we are continually looking at, and planning for, ourfuture to ensure we are placing our business in the right place forcontinued success.”

Says Daniels: “We are looking to build on the known strengths of thisagency, and retain our focus on solving business problems with betterand better work.  It will be about better creativity for bettereffectiveness – no more complicated than that.”

Chris James (left), digital creative director, also joins the agency’score management group as part of its focus on ever-greater standardsfor creative output.

O’Brien continued: “We have in place an outstanding leadership team toensure the continued success of this agency as we move forward.”

He said there would be other additions made to Ogilvy Sydney’smanagement group made in the coming months, which will be announced ata later date.