EXCLUSIVE: Ikon Communications national CEO Dan Johns has said 'The Gender Debate' will be factored into the agency's appointment of three new agency directors.
Following the promotion of Ikon agency directors Pat Crowley and Annick Perrin to joint Sydney managing directors, and agency director Brett Dawson's move to a new unnamed STW agency, the company is searching for three agency directors.
Johns told AdNews, "Gender is always an important consideration when making new hires and structuring our team. If you look at our senior ranks you’ll find a good split. The gender issue seems particularly heated at the moment. In making these senior appointments, we will, as always, be respectful of creating an even gender balance."
Johns was making reference to 'The Gender Debate', which kicked off in AdNews last week, with an editorial on the lack of women in the most senior roles in the media industry. Since then, AdNews has published an anonymous opinion piece by a young female media executive, which provoked a response from UM Melbourne MD Wendy Gower.
Is Ikon right to take gender into consideration? Cast your vote in the poll at the end of this article.
Meanwhile, the agency has hired UK digital marketer Chris Dutton as digital director.
Dutton comes to the agency from UK agency Agenda21, where he was head of technology. He has also worked as head of operations at Uniquedigital, and as account manager at Google.
His main focus in the new role will be the Westfield account.
Ikon Sydney joint managing director Annick Perrin said: "It's rare to find someone as talented as Chris who has a track record of providing thought leadership across such a diverse range of digital platforms, we know that he is going to be a great addition to our existing team."
The appointment marks the latest move in the wide-reaching restructure of Ikon Sydney, which saw Johns promoted from Sydney managing partner to national chief executive. As part of the process, the company’s three agency directors have been promoted or moved within STW.
Ikon has previously split the Sydney agency into three units in an attempt to create a "small business culture", with each unit headed up by an agency director. Following the movement of Ikon Sydney’s three agency directors, the agency is currently looking for three individuals to fill the gap.
Johns told AdNews the company is searching both internally and externally for people to fill the roles.
Ikon is still searching for a trading director.
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