CEO Jon Ramage set to exit Y&R as ECD Josh Moore takes control of agency management
After seven years, CEO Jon Ramage is leaving Y&R to take time out from the advertising industry leaving executive creative director Josh Moore (pictured) to lead the agency.
The move comes just over a year since NZ born Moore joined Y&R from Us, Sydney, where he was creative partner.
Y&R non-executive chairman Ross Goldsack says it is no secret the advertising industry has been under sustained pressure during the global financial crisis, and Y&R has not been immune: “Jon has borne much of that pressure and has decided he’d like to take a break and recharge his batteries.”
Goldsack paid tribute to Ramage’s work at the Parnell agency: “Jon and I had some superb successes together and Jon was the leader who took us to the Fairfax AdMedia Agency of the Year in 2008.
“Jon is a terrific person, smart, articulate and incredibly personable. Not only has he been a great colleague but he is also a mate as well.”
Goldsack says Ramage has agreed to help both him and Moore with the transition during the next few months: “We’re in good health. The agency teams are flat out and our client’s business is our key consideration right now. I am also grateful for the support of our Australian Y&R team which has the resources and the commitment to back the business as we move ahead.
“We are also very much focused on the welfare of our people and to that end, no further staff changes are mooted.”
13 Comments
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
If he did indeed step down, maybe it was because the guy who supposedly quit and moved to the other side of the planet 4 years ago is still considered the company’s mouthpiece.
Jon is a good guy, but he had a Sisyphean job trying to convince Y&R to be a creatively led agency.
All the best Mr Fromage!
Congrats on the new role Josh, but be careful of what you wish for. Wanting things done your way is one thing, being accountable for the agency’s growth and financial performance is a whole new ball park. Good luck.
Why is it that some people go into a role to work in partnership with the person who hired them, only to become consumed with ambition.
That’s advertising folks. Egos rule and lesser mortals are here today, gone today.
(Although 7 years is a lifetime in advertising by anyone’s measure.)
Josh is one of the most intelligent and driven people I’ve ever worked with. He has proven time and again how talented he is which has caused a lot of jealousy and attempted put downs in the industry. But I believe he now has the maturity to step up as a true leader and I have no doubt Y&R will flourish under his leadership.
Thanks Josh.
Show me the money! If Josh can make the agency run profitability and keep his multinational masters happy than they deserve the success. If not, I’m sure it won’t be tolerated for long. If it’s making dollars, then it’s making sense.
Must be pretty gutting. You go out on a limb and make a big call to bring in a big gun, something the agency has lacked for years. Revenue growth doesn’t come to fruition. The market is stuffed. Big name then pulls off a coup. Thanks buddy.
No dounbt WPP has some big dividend demands now the UK is back into a double dip. Management need to take a leaf out of Doug Faudet’s book at DDB iin the 90s – tell the masters to hold tight & if the top team buy into some skin in the game. if they agree, you shed 1/4 – 1/3 of the agency, rebuild your current rellatiosnhips and start hunting. Good luck guys – it’s getting cold out there.
Mr Moore, if you’re going to step up as CEO can I advise getting a ‘proper’ headshot.
So there this marketing director looking at creative led agencies… Is she or he going to go with Mike O or Josh M… Extremely difficult call indeed!
And guess what, Josh’s former planner/partner from years ago, James Hurman, is back from China to be, what – Planning Director/Joint MD?
…Glenys would’ve had to. Who would answer the phones when all those new clients don’t call?