The power of social media rescued incoming ZenithOptimedia chief executive Ian Perrin after he was stranded on a mountainside in Nepal for six days.
Perrin was hiking in Nepal when himself and 2000 other hikers became stranded due to inclement weather, with rescue helicopters only able to save a lucky few people each day. Perrin managed to board one of the helicopters on the third day, only to be physically pushed off by other desperate hikers.
Perrin's wife Mindshare chief talent officer Mandy Kennett posted a plea for help on Facebook on Saturday (5 November), thinking it would be futile. A friend from MEC contacted Kennett and reminded her GroupM finance manager Keshab Tripathee was from Nepal and may have connections.
Tripathee contacted his father in Nepal who is acquainted with the general in charge of evacuating the stranded hikers. Perrin's name was given to a pilot and he is now on a flight back to Australia.
Kennett said in an email: "We will never know if it was sheer luck or Keshab giving up his weekend (for a complete stranger) to connect with the general that got Ian off the mountain, but Ian is sitting on a Qantas flight heading home right now."
Perrin was recently recruited by ZenithOptimedia as chief executive. He was formerly Naked Communications Sydney managing director. Kennett was appointed mid-year as chief talent officer and sits on the agency's national senior management board.
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