AJF Partnership appoints Con Frantzeskos to the role of managing director; AJF CCO Josh Stephens to depart at end of 2022 to pursue new interests
AJF Partnership has today announced changes to its senior leadership team, including the appointment of Con Frantzeskos, the managing director of digital consultancy PENSO. Josh Stephens will step down as chief creative officer at the end of the year to pursue new interests.
Frantzeskos (pictured above) will immediately step into the role of managing director of AJF to work with the leadership team to reinvigorate the business by harnessing the agency’s strengths, and adding new elements, to ensure it continues to operate at the forefront of the industry. Frantzeskos also continues in his role as managing director of PENSO as it continues to grow in Australia and the Middle East.
Frantzeskos has a strong pedigree in agencies, having held digital leadership roles across APAC with DDB, Ogilvy and Edelman. He is currently the director of the Victorian Government’s startup agency, LaunchVic and an advisory board member of Swinburne University of Technology Innovation Precinct. Frantzeskos’s business consulting experience and digital pedigree will be integral for AJF.
AJF’s head of client service Susan Bird has been appointed as general manager, and Emily Pockley has been appointed as the new head of client service.
AJF Founder, Adam Francis, will step down from the day to day running of the agency to focus entirely on clients and his executive creative director responsibilities.
After 15 years at AJF, Josh Stephens will also step down as chief creative officer at the end of the year to pursue new interests. A global search is well underway to find Stephens’ replacement.
Stephens, who joined AJF in 2007, is most famous for co-creating VB’s iconic ‘Talking Boony’ at George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne and has also created award winning work for the AFL, Cricket Australia, Chupa Chups, Australian Defence Force and the ‘Thai Thai’ spot for Yellow Pages.
Says Clint Cooper, CEO, GrowthOps: “Transitioning from founder-led businesses is always a significant milestone in any business’s life. With the support of founders and a strong leadership team, we believe the timing is right to take this opportunity to revitalise the agency, similar to what occurred in Khemistry earlier this year.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Adam and Josh, who have not only been remarkable industry leaders over many years but personally have been an incredible support for me and the wider GrowthOps group.
“We look forward to working with them over the coming months as we complete the transition.”
5 Comments
Congrats Con!
And great hire GrowthOps 👍🏼
That’s huge news. All the best Josh, excited to see what the future holds for you.
Congrats Con, loved developing a couple of brands with you at Penso, you’ve got a great mind, all the best for the next venture!
Well done Con. That’s great news mate and well deserved. You’re a legend and AJF will surely thrive under your leadership.
But the hour really belongs to Josh. I’ve been lucky enough to have had him in my sphere (or been in his) since his first job at Y&R. When ‘Gary’ Chocolate Milk is your first outing (name and campaign with Rosie), he set the bar pretty high. And then I got to work with him as a partner. Plus he helped build AJF into a real force. Humble, funny, fucking clever (always) he always did things on his terms. And I’m pretty lucky and proud to still call him a mate. Whatever you do next will no doubt be humble, funny, fucking clever and on your own terms. Fingers crossed it has nothing to do with advertising. Onwards (as always) Stevo.
Onya Josh. Best of luck with whatever you do next.