AUCKLAND, Today: PHD has announced that in November, Louise Bond will transition into the role of chairperson for PHD New Zealand. After almost 20 years at the helm, Bond has decided to move into a governance and strategic counsel role.
The agency will be working through the process of selecting a new ceo over the coming months with Bond’s guidance.
“Choosing to spend more time with my teenagers before they fly the nest is absolutely the right decision for me for now,” she said in a release sent out by Spark PR & Activate Auckland’s Victoria Fruean.
Louise Bond: “However, it goes without saying that moving on from the ceo function was not a decision I reached easily. Spark, our agency name before we joined the PHD network, was the media independent I launched with business partners in 1999.
I had my two sons in the early years, but the agency was my first creation and I remain hugely proud of where it has come today.”
London-based PHD Worldwide ceo Mike Cooper, who was integral to the network’s acquisition of Spark in 2007, said: “Louise has been an outstanding leader of one of PHD’s most successful agencies
in the network, consistently delivering business success for over two decades.
“She has also overseen the most incredible record of award wins, including Gold Cannes Lions and multiple Agency of the Year titles.
“We are grateful for her significant contribution to the network and we wish her all the best for the future.”
Sydney-based Omnicom Media Group ANZ ceo Peter Horgan will lead the appointment of a new CEO, with the support of Bond.
“Choosing to spend more time with my teenagers before they fly the nest is absolutely the right decision for me for now.”
“With the continued involvement of Louise in the business, we have the advantage of time in finalising an appointment of a proven leader who embodies the PHD values, is a great cultural fit and who can build on the agency’s unique strategy-first approach and thought-leadership positioning,” he said.
“In the face of change, PHD also has the advantage of having the most stable and experienced leadership team in the New Zealand market. In addition to Louise, the PHD leadership team comprises Nikki Grafton, Lee-Ann Morris, Dallas Gurney, Simon Bird, Christophe Spencer, Penny Harvie and Scott Keddie (OMG NZ).
“This team has over 160 combined years of industry experience, with more than 90 of those as part of PHD Group.”
Acting ceo
From November, timed with Bond’s reduced hours, Grafton will assume an acting ceo role, supported by Morris (PHD), Gurney (Spark PR & Activate) and the rest of the senior leadership team.
Grafton was formerly PHD’s managing director and has spent 12 years in a senior leadership position at PHD.
PHD was named 2018 Media Agency of the Year at the local Beacons industry awards, with Bond also winning a Campaign Asia 2018 Women Leading Change award.
About PHD
PHD is known globally as an innovator in communications planning and buying across broadcast, print, digital, mobile, social and emerging media, reflected in the network ranking 2nd most awarded network in the world, according to the Gunn Media 100 report – a benchmark of the most creatively awarded agencies and networks.
PHD New Zealand was also named the Communications Council Media Agency of the Year 2018, Media Network of the Year at Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity 2017 and was awarded a Silver for Campaign Asia Pacific Media Agency of the Year 2017.
PHD has over 6000 staff working in over 90 offices worldwide, having been founded in London in 1990 as the first planning-led media agency. Built on a culture of thought leadership, innovation and creativity, with a philosophy of “Finding a Better Way”, PHD is today one of the world’s fastest growing media and communication agency networks.
The PHD network is part of the Omnicom Media Group (www.omnicommediagroup.com), a
division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC)
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