PHD announces new executive leadership structure with a number of promotions

PHD Australia has announced significant changes to the agency’s executive leadership team, promoting several staff to new roles within the business.

Current joint national managing director, Stuart Bailey (above left), will assume the role of chief operating officer and will continue to lead the agency and build deeper business partnerships with clients across PHD Australia’s unique data, technology and digital offerings.

Bailey started with Omnicom Media Group in 2012, joining PHD in 2017 as chief digital officer, before assuming the role of managing director at the start of 2020.

Says Mark Jarrett, CEO, PHD Australia: “Stuart’s promotion was reflective of his efforts in leading the agency through a difficult 18 months, while also maintaining close relationships with key clients, including seeing a number of long-term clients extend their relationship with PHD.”

Says Bailey: “I am incredibly proud of how PHD has gone from strength to strength in the last few years. A large part of this is the breadth and depth of talent we have across all business areas. I am excited to take up this new challenge and work with MJ, and the rest of the team to continue, and even surpass, that success moving forward.”

Alongside Bailey’s promotion, other senior members of PHD Australia’s team have also been elevated to new positions.

Stephanie Douglas-Neal (centre) will take on the role of managing director PHD Sydney. She will continue to lead the Sydney team, as well as continuing her oversight of the People & Development Team at PHD. Over the past 18 months, Douglas-Neal has worked tirelessly to drive cohesion across the Sydney office whilst ensuring exceptional client delivery.

She has also enabled the people team to deliver an outstanding program of initiatives designed to look after the health and wellbeing of PHD Australia’s entire staff. These programs have been recognised to the extent that they have been rolled out across the APAC region.

Says Douglas-Neal: “I am so proud of what PHD has built in the past few years. I’m passionate about this business, our people, and building strong and deep partnerships with our clients. It is a huge privilege for me to be able to continue grow here, and to work with the leadership team to take the Sydney agency into what will be an exciting 2022 for us.”

Simon Lawson (right) will be promoted to managing director of PHD Melbourne. Over the past four years as general manager, Lawson has doubled the size of the Melbourne office, while also adding several key clients including Asahi, Spotlight Retail Group, Swisse and Tennis Australia to PHD Melbourne’s client portfolio. Lawson and his team have also maintained long-term relationships with existing clients such as ANZ, Priceline, 7-Eleven and Bakers Delight.

Says Lawson: “PHD Melbourne’s success is largely down to the talented group of individuals that I get to work with every day: I’m excited to continue our journey in my new capacity as managing director.”

Alongside those changes some of PHD’s senior team members will join its executive team – national head of trading, Joanna Barnes (left), recently appointed national head of new business and marketing, Kate Milligan (centre), and national head of strategy, Mitchell Long (right), will take up positions on the team.

All appointments will be effective November 1st.

As a result of the changes, joint national managing director, Lucy Formosa Morgan (pictured below) will depart the agency. Formosa-Morgan began at Omnicom Media Group in 2006, as part of the OMD team. Since joining PHD more than 10 years ago, Formosa Morgan has been instrumental in developing PHD’s market-leading investment team, while driving consistent commercial success across the business. Jarrett took the opportunity to thank Formosa Morgan for all her contribution across her time with PHD and wished her the best in her future endeavours.