Credit: Vitaly Gariev via Unsplash
Dentsu Australia has made three senior media leadership roles redundant as part of a shift to a state-based operating model.
The people and roles impacted are Marcelle Hoyek, national managing director of iProspect, Ken Lam, Melbourne general manager of iProspect, and Barbara Messitt, managing director of the Woolworths account at dentsu.
Dentsu has consolidated its Australian media business, bringing its separate Carat and iProspect brands into a single media proposition under the dentsu name.
The move is part of a broader shift to a state-based operating model, with each market led by a managing director reporting into national media leadership.
The overhaul is aimed at simplifying operations and creating clearer accountability across the media practice.
AdNews understands no further redundancies have been made within the media practice at this stage.
The holding group is also recruiting for a NSW-based managing director of media role as part of the restructure.
A dedicated client lead role for the Woolworths account is also being recruited following the changes.
The restructure aligns the media business under a unified state-based leadership model rather than separate agency structures.
Marcelle Hoyek has since joined EssenceMediacom as client managing director, Sydney.
Dentsu chief practice officer, media Chris Ernst said the changes involved difficult decisions.
“The changes we've made to our media business have required some difficult decisions, including about some truly outstanding leaders.
“Chella, Ken and Babs are some of the best. I have enormous admiration and respect for the care, expertise and dedication they have all brought to our business and our clients. They will thrive wherever they go next.”
Dentsu is also undertaking broader structural changes across its Australian operations, including its customer experience and data business Merkle.
Merkle will no longer operate as a primary brand in ANZ but will continue to be activated for global and regional clients when required.
As part of the Salesforce divestment, around 130 employees will move into a new business under ownership of Enduring Ventures, including Merkle managing directors Paul Whittaker and Gareth Reason.
Approximately 50 employees will remain with dentsu and be integrated into its broader capability across experience, commerce, data and analytics.
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