Credit: dentsu
Dentsu has appointed Rob Harvey CEO of dentsu ANZ, effective immediately.
Harvey steps into the role following the departure of Patricio De Matteis, who has led the ANZ business since 2023.
Harvey joined dentsu Aotearoa in 2011 as managing director, media, and was appointed CEO of the New Zealand business in 2013.
"It’s been a privilege to lead dentsu Aotearoa for over a decade,” Harvey said.
“As I step into the CEO role across ANZ, I see a powerful opportunity to build on the great work Patricio has done over the past 2.5 years, bringing the full strength of our network across Australia and New Zealand to accelerate how we create value for clients through more integrated, innovative and insight-driven solutions."
Harvey has spent the past 12 months working closely with the Australian teams.
"This next chapter is about sharper focus, deeper collaboration and unlocking the potential that comes from truly operating as one,” he said.
De Matteis exits after overseeing a period of structural change, including the consolidation of 26 brands into five core agency brands.
During his tenure, he focused on integration across Australia and New Zealand and established new growth areas centred on data, technology, AI and automation.
“Rob’s appointment marks a deliberate and confident step forward for dentsu ANZ, reinforcing our commitment to our people, sharpening the value we deliver to clients and laying the groundwork for more meaningful, impactful outcomes,” said global chief strategy officer and APAC lead at dentsu, Yoshiki Ishihara, said.
“Rob is already deeply embedded in the business and brings a strong track record of building enduring client partnerships, leading with clarity and delivering results.
“His commercial acumen, deep client understanding and ability to unite teams across markets positions him well to lead ANZ into its next phase with discipline and ambition.”
Ishihara said Harvey’s transition into his new role aligns with the company’s mid-term management plan and focus on accelerating growth through Media++.
“I’d like to thank Patricio for his leadership and for establishing a strong strategic foundation across Australia and New Zealand, uniting capabilities and deepening our focus on future growth levers,” he said.
Harvey will be based between Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney.
The leadership transition comes amid broader challenges for the business across the region. Dentsu recently reported negative revenue growth in Australia for the year to December, with the market highlighted alongside China and Denmark for delivering organic revenue declines of more than 10%.
Across APAC, revenue declined 7% organically in 2024, driven by “continued weakness in Australia and China,” with local client spend in Australia cited as a particular drag on performance in its Customer Experience Management (CXM) division.
While dentsu saw a modest recovery in the December quarter, the environment remains difficult. Globally, the company has set modest expectations for 2025, forecasting just 1% growth as it focuses on internal restructuring.
The longer-term ambition is to return to 4% organic growth and lift operating margins to 16–17% by FY2027.
CXM recorded a double-digit organic revenue decline for the full year in Australia, highlighting sustained challenges in customer experience management amid reduced local client spend.
This pressure on dentsu’s CXM offering further underscores the strategic importance of Harvey’s remit to drive deeper integration and innovation across the region.
Despite the overall decline, the business reported a 2.6% lift in global organic revenue in the December quarter, a tentative sign of stabilisation following a difficult year.
Looking ahead, dentsu is targeting a return to 4% organic growth and an operating margin of 16–17% by FY2027, as it continues to restructure and streamline operations globally.
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