Former MD of IPG's Society Swankie exits

Rosie Baker
By Rosie Baker | 22 July 2015
 
Nicola Swankie, MD of IPG Mediabrands social marketing agency Society.

The former managing director of IPG Mediabrand's Society division Nicola Swankie has exited the agency to take on a content role at an online media company.

Swankie had been tipped to take on a newly created head of content strategy role within Society back in April at the same time the agency had announced We Are Social's David Fairfull would join as MD. However, soon after Fairfull had a change of heart and stayed with We Are Social, never taking up the role.

She was one of the founding management team of the agency alongside Ian Laurie, former head of social investment, who left the agency a year ago to join mobile Amobee as head of social.

Prior to setting up Society, she was social media planning director at Leo Burnett Sydney, and has now taken up the head of content role at health website iquitsuger.com.au.

Dan Johns, group commercial director continues to oversee Society, and it's not clear if he will install another senior exec to directly replace Swankie as MD.

Swankie's departure is yet another move in IPG Mediabrands' management in fecent months. Henry Tajer took on the global CEO role this month after the move was announced back in March. Danny Bass, former GroupM investment chief who is set to take on the leadership of the Australian business, is yet to take up the post because he's on gardening leave. Likewise, Mark Pejic, former MediaCom CEO, is yet to take up his post of chairman of IPG Mediabrands Melbourne.

Marc Lomas, former CEO of Cadreon in Australia, is also set to leave the Australian business in coming months to take up an as yet unspecified international post. Jessica White will step up to become managing director having worked closely with Lomas in driving Cadreon's growth.

Mnet CEO Travis Johnson is also set to relocate to New York to take on the global head of mobile role for IPG Mediabrands following a stellar performance here.

Former group strategy chief Stefan Burford has also moved back to the UK, a year after moving from UM to take on the group-wide role.

GroupM also has a somewhat unsettled senior management at present with the departure of former chairman and CEO John Steadman leaving the group CEO role open, Danny Bass and Mark Pejic defecting to IPG. Former MEC CEO Peter Vogel has also moved on to a regional role based out of Singapore, which has seen former chief strategy officer James Hier take on the CEO role.

Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop me a line at rosiebaker@yaffa.com.au

Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day. Need a job? Visit adnewsjobs.com.au.

Read more about these related brands, agencies and people

comments powered by Disqus