George Patterson Y&R Brisbane’s general manager Mike Harris has stepped up to the role of managing partner following the appointment of former Brisbane head Phil McDonald as managing director of the Sydney office.
Harris’ appointment is the latest in a string of senior management changes for the ad agency, including the departure of Sydney MD Julie Porter and promotion of Russel Howcroft to national CEO last week.
With a career spanning more than two decades at the agency, including four years as Brisbane GM, Harris will now take the reigns of a revamped management team in Brisbane including newly appointed director of client services Richard Boland. The former head of marketing for V8 Supercars Australia, Boland is also a former MD of Lowe’s marketing services agency Draft.
Harris said: “The agency is now firing on all fronts. We’ve also had a raft of recent, very good creative work for Bay Audio, the Electoral Commission of Queensland and RSPCA, culminating in metal for Suncorp at the recent Australian Outdoor Awards.”
Outgoing MD McDonald added: “With Mike and Richard stepping up this will be a seamless changeover and Brisbane will continue to enjoy success and ass to the national momentum of GPY&R.”
