(l-r) William Trewlynn, Fiona Johnston, Ray Alam.
First Nations-led business YarnnUp has appointed former dentsu Australia chief executive executive Fiona Johnston managing director.
Johnston brings senior leadership experience from UM ANZ, IPG Global Mediabrands, MediaCom, Havas EMEA and most recently dentsu ANZ, where she worked with clients including Tourism Australia, Woolworths Group, Optus and The Coca-Cola Corporation.
She will oversee management of the consultancy, founded in 2018 by William Trewlynn and Ray Alam. Clients include Tourism Australia, McDonald's Australia, Allianz, DHL, QBE and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Johnston left dentsu in October last year after her position was made redundant.
"I'm excited to help realise the next phase of the YarnnUp business, leading an amazing and talented team, alongside Will and Ray, to ensure our impact and client partnerships can create important work that makes us all proud,” Johnston said.
“Culturally sound, client inspired and commercial success with purpose."
Trewlynn, co-founder and director of creative and culture, said the appointment will allow the founders to focus on the long-term vision while strengthening client, craft and operational excellence.
"Our ambition is bigger than the business. We want to change the way this country understands leadership," he said.
“We're sitting on 60,000-plus years of knowledge about how to lead, how to relate to one another, how to make good decisions, and I want that in boardrooms and cabinet rooms, treated as real intelligence, not a nice-to-have on the side.”
Alam, co-founder and director of commercial and strategy, said Johnston understood both the commercial realities clients faced and the importance of building culturally capable organisations.
"As we continue to grow, her leadership will help us scale without compromising the values and purpose that have shaped YarnnUp from day one," he said.
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