Peter Horovitz has been tempted back to agency life after being handed the job of managing director of Ogilvy’s Melbourne operation, saying the offer was “simply one I couldn’t refuse”.

The position has been vacant for two years, since Andrew Baxter took on the CEO role for the whole group, and marks Horovitz’s return to agency life eight years after leaving Young & Rubicam, where he spent 17-years, including five as MD of the Sydney office and CEO of Wunderman locally.

His most recent role has been as a partner at management training firm Red Sky Consulting.

Baxter has confirmed  general  managers of the various business units in Melbourne, including Badjar Ogilvy’s Michael McEwan, OgilvyOne’s Nick Muncaster and Ogilvy Growth Companies’ Andrew Egan are all safe in their jobs.

Horovitz said: “Ogilvy is an incredibly strong brand and has a genuine ‘A’ team of creative and strategic talent under its roof.

“I’ve always loved the business, and have a history of encouraging and fostering collaboration; something that Ogilvy excels at. I’m excited to join the group and help ensure we create the best environment for producing great work that works.”

Baxter said Horovitz has the “proven leadership, commercial instincts, and business acumen to help drive Ogilvy Melbourne on its next stage of growth”, adding: “Ogilvy Melbourne is a big, successful and diverse business. But it’s a busy place, and we need strong overall leadership to set the path for continued growth while the current management team drive the day to day.

“Peter is absolutely the right person to take on that challenge. Each of the heads of our specialist businesses have done a great job in the last 18 months, creating some famous campaigns and excellent results for our clients.