Palace CEO Jacques Burger to return to South Africa to head up M&C Saatchi Abel, Jo’burg
As expected by many in the industry, The Campaign Palace national CEO Jacques Burger is stepping down after two years at the helm to return to South Africa to head up M&C Saatchi Abel’s new Johannesburg office, which opens October 1, with friend and creative director Vumile Mavumengwana as partner.
“Jacques has successfully steered The Palace through great change and helped re-establish its creative reputation. He has also been key in securing fresh new talent for the agency in creative, digital and planning,” says TCP executive chairman Mark Mackay, who returned to The Palace in June. “We wish him well in his new post.”
Says Burger: “I have had a tremendous time at The Palace. The agency has great clients, some of the most famous brands in Australia and great people. I have enormous respect for their thinking, work and most importantly, their values. I know that The Palace will continue to do well under the leadership of Mark and his team.
“My family and I have loved living in Australia but an unexpected andphenomenally exciting opportunity to join M&C in South Africa, workwith old friends and back the Springboks unashamedly (even when theydon’t deserve it) have all influenced what was a tough decision in theend.”
Mackay said he expected to announce a new managing director for the Sydney office shortly.
Read how Burger’s appointment was covered by bizcommunity.com in South Africa.
34 Comments
gonna miss you – was great to have someone with vision and an opinion here who is not afraid to express it
It’s a loss for the Palace but it’s a stronger agency now than what he inherited. Good luck to both.
Everyone leaves and now the person responsible for them leaving leaves. Ain’t advertising awesome.
Jacques is one of those genuinely passionate and intelligent ad guys who actually makes a difference to a place. It’s been good to see the Palace back on the radar this last year. I’m sure he’ll be missed.
He has done some v good work at The Palace and is a great leader – a loss
By what measure? Fewer clients, fewer employees, less floorspace occupied and somebody eating enough humble pie to ask Mark Mackay back? The PR folks writing the usual drivel under cover of ‘anonymous’
Burger has made a big difference to the place – just look at the work and the talent
hopefully they can keep up the good momentum – good luck Jacques
gotta keep Cam at The Palace guys
RIchard Marks,
he’s carrying the can for the guy in melbourne taking his eye off the ball.
think what he inherited – MD, Planning Director, CDs and senior suits all left before he got there. the place could have imploded.
instead, they lost one account – 3 Mobile, one of the most promiscuous clients in the market – improved the creative department out of sight and the work is through the roof.
hear hear palatial writer – burger is top talent – m&c is lucky to get him
3 mobile must be one of the worst clients in this market
its been too short – you will be missed jacques – Palace Client
So how come the Melbourne guy didn’t get the arse?
Big mistake letting Burger go
They got a burger but without the lot.
Sad to see you go, see you next tuesday for a beer.
Finally, an end to all those all staff meetings.
good luck in South Africa Jacques, sorry to see you go
Watch this space.
Come on PR people work a little harder we aint retarded! The Palace has turned into a train wreck since McKay left and now his replacement was going a few months back they have asked him back to pick up the pieces. This is the ultimate in corporate shame. It seems WPP’s mission is to purchase agencies at a high price and erode net worth. Whoops you’ve done it again!
I really don’t know who is writing all this positive stuff?
From what I know, both Melbourne and Sydney offices have grown smaller, no new client wins, existing clients doing less work and low staff morale.
Read this propaganda
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/12/50316.html
claiming :
‘Raft of new business wins’
‘transformation of Australia’s true creative powerhouse’
Joker !
It’s sad to see a once-great agency and brand so obviously go through this endless upheaval. Obviously telling the truth would be damaging to people, reputations and the brand, but this typical corporate spin with its standard, off-the-shelf phrases is just ridiculous and unbelievable. What about a bit of biting, investigative journalism? I believe Jason Akermanis is available.
What is ridiculous are all these comments without factual evidence – Sydney has more clients more people than before Burger started – but all seem fixated on numbers and forget quality – better people better clients better work – well done Jacques
I’m sure once you’ve done your investigation you’ll find that not everyone subscribes to hard work, integrity and creative focus – so little wonder Jacques was not liked by all – but he has a lot of supporters within the palace and with clients – let’s hope they will stay on for the next chapter
JB is a v talented guy and Mackay is a great person with plenty experience – pity something could not be worked out for them to work together – could have been great
Good luck Mark
I love Melbourne’s 4 Creative Directors thingy, one for each client, I suppose? Unheard of, really. Hilarious.
Melbourne only has 1 client left last time I checked?
Origin is gone. Maybe they need three CD’s now?
Cam must be feeling pretty exposed and lonely there now.
Will we see a change in CD as well?
Burger and Cam are very close and have delivered some great work together – he must be lonely
Jacques and Cam were a tight team. That’s the way it works in the best agencies.
And they can both take care of themselves, so enough with the ‘feeling pretty exposed’ crap.
Honestly.