Shock for WPP AUNZ as CEO and exec director Mike Connaghan quits after 12 years at the helm
The board of WPP AUNZ has accepted the resignation of CEO and executive director Mike Connaghan, who will exit the business at the end of 2018, following 12 years with the business.
Connaghan has led the business for over a decade through a period of acquisition throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and playing a key role in the merger of STW with WPP.
Says WPP AUNZ chairman Rob Mactier: “Mike has led the company through a period of extensive change and inspired our people to leverage our scale, global knowledge and collective know how.
“It is a testament to Mike’s qualities that he recognises that it is now the right time for renewal as we seek to capitalise on the opportunities that the merger and our leadership position in the market presents, particularly as the industry undergoes further transformation.”
Says Connaghan: ”It has been a truly diverse experience and a privilege to serve the company, from my early days with John Singleton Advertising, through to my role as CEO of STW followed by WPP AUNZ, with $850m in revenue and more than 5000 fantastic employees.
“WPP AUNZ is indeed an inspiring place to go to work every day. I am proud of the company that we have built and the talented employees and impressive calibre of clients that we have nurtured and supported. I am confident that the company will go from strength to strength.”
14 Comments
Mike was quoted as saying “I wouldn’t work there if you paid me”
-200m in revenue to $650m that’s why he’s gone.
Big innings Mike. All the best.
Its never easy running a big agency network – even more so when that network is WPP/STW and you’ve found yourself reporting to Martin Sorrell and/or John Singleton and Russel Tate. To have done so for 12 years is quite an achievement. Well done Mike and good luck.
When you bullet the top creatives in your agencies because of falling revenues, then you deserve the bullet yourself.
Sounds like the usual management cover-up fluff.
I wouldn’t call them top. At least not anymore. He did a great job in clearing out the driftwood.
Good man and always fair, good luck Mike great innings and all the best for the next challenge
The numbers don’t lie.
A lot of the people posting negative comments wouldn’t have lasted a day in a leadership position such as this. He lasted 12 years. Take a bow Mike.
Mike did well to ride that tiger for over a decade. The very best of luck to Him in his future endeavors.
He kept Australia’s most complicated marcomms business running for more than a decade under the watch of some of adland’s most demanding masters – not to mention having to steer a listed company as its revenues came under threat from a changing market. And he did it all while remaining a good bloke. Congrats Mike. Good innings.
Leadership is about leading a business forward, not managing its death.
It takes massive energy, strength of character, heaps of talent and enormous drive to ‘ride that tiger’ as a previous person rightly posted. Mikes got it all. I know, because I too rode that ‘Tiger’ with him for a while. Can’t wait to see what Mike does next, after a well-earned rest x
P.S Why do the spineless bastards who have negative comments, hide their names. Mike C would never do that. He always faced up.
Bruce