Ikon announces new leadership structure – Sydney managing partner Dan Johns to CEO role

Australian-owned media agency, Ikon, part of STW Group, has announced a new leadership structure to help shape and drive the company’s next phase of expansion in Australia.

Following two years of industry-leading growth, a raft of major new business wins and the establishment of new offices, a new Ikon chief executive role has been created, to be undertaken by current Sydney managing partner, Dan Johns (far left).

As part of his new role Johns will lead an Australia-wide management team comprising Nicole Turley, national trading director, Leonie Kerley, national people & culture director, and David Gerrie, national finance director, to oversee the development of all offices in Australia. Ikon has offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and plans to expand into Brisbane shortly.

Two of Ikon’s long-standing leaders, Pat Crowley (above right) and Annick Perrin (above centre), have been promoted from the roles of agency director to joint managing directors of the Sydney office, heralding a return to the company’s original two-person leadership team when founded by Gary Hardwick and Simon White 12 years ago.

Says STW Group CEO Michael Connaghan: “The Ikon Sydney business has consistently performed at the very highest level and Dan’s leadership has been a strong contributing factor to this. It makes perfect sense, and is a natural progression for Dan, to take on a broader role across the Ikon brand and its expansion into new markets. This move has been made possible because of the proven depth and breadth of the leadership team at Ikon, and we are excited and confident about Ikon’s opportunity to keep growing fast on the back of unique and outstanding solutions for clients.”

New CEO, Dan Johns, said of the role: “Ikon is an extraordinary business with an abundance of incredibly talented people at its heart. Our success had been built around an amazing culture, and a passion for delivering genuine value and ROI for clients. We have built our business on ‘doing things differently’ for clients, and have a powerful leadership team and structure in place to keep doing that on an even larger canvass. Working with Pat and Annick over the years and watching them develop into brilliant, respected leaders has been an absolute highlight, and I know they will take the Ikon Sydney business to further heights as managing directors.”

Further promotions and new roles in the Sydney office will be created as part of this change.

Says Connaghan: “To help steer Ikon’s further growth in the region and globally, we’ve also created a new Ikon Advisory Board, made up by Dan Johns, myself, Ikon founder Simon White and CFO Simon Brock. We are extremely optimistic about the opportunity for Ikon to leverage its unique culture and proposition into more new markets.”

Connaghan also announced that Ikon’s agency director, Brett Dawson, and national strategy director, Chris Christofi have been working with STW on the imminent launch of an exciting new progressive communications venture, the details of which will be unveiled by STW next month. “We love entrepreneurial ideas right for the times,” says Connaghan. “We particularly like partnering with proven STW leaders who have also ensured outstanding succession planning to enable others to build on what they have helped create. Ikon is in great shape, and the timing for Brett and Chris, with STW, to embark on this exciting new venture could not be better. Watch this space for more details soon.”

“Brett and Chris have made an enormous contribution to the Ikon business since its inception,” says Johns. “The new business STW is partnering with them on is incredibly relevant for evolving client needs. They leave Ikon with our deepest respect, gratitude and affection, and we look forward to continued partnership with the new venture as part of the STW family.”

Ikon saw a growth in billings of +35% in 2009 and +89% in 2010. This performance has been achieved through organic growth from the Ikon Sydney business and the establishment of new Ikon offices in Melbourne in January 2010 and Perth in Oct 2010.

Ikon New Zealand also has two highly successful offices which have been running for three years in Wellington and Auckland. Ikon3 in New York, a joint venture between Ikon founder Gary Hardwick, STW and Droga5, continues to grow too.

“Part of the key to our success has without doubt been the unwavering focus on our people, their development and opportunities we’ve provided. This is evidenced by B&T employer of the Year 2010 and BRW 8th Best Place to Work across all industries in 2011,” added Johns.

This year new business wins have included Diageo, Video Ezy, Red Cross Blood Service and NIB.