Y&R Group Sydney has appointed Y&R Indonesia CEO Andrew Dowling as its managing director.
Dowling, who led Y&R Advertising and launched VML Qais Jakarta during his two year tenure in Indonesia, will return to Australia to oversee the machinations of George Patterson Y&R, digital and experiential agency VML and retail marketing arm IdeaWorks.
Dowling is the first to take up this role in the Sydney office.
Jason Buckley, Y&R Group COO said: “Andrew has been part of the George Patterson and Y&R cultures for 11 years, working across our network in Asia for more than five. He has been a top performer for us in Asia, and we are absolutely delighted to bring him home as our leader in Sydney.
“Our people and our clients know him; he understands our culture and most importantly, our clients’ businesses. We have a leader who is a dedicated professional committed to building our group of agencies, with our clients and our people.”
Dowling previously held roles as a regional group account director at Y&R Singapore, a group account director at George Patts Sydney and senior communications manager at George Patterson Bates in 2002.
He also spent three years as a NSW primary school teacher prior to 2000.
Dowling said: “I’m excited to be returning to the agency where I started my career. Y&R Group in Sydney has developed a great blend of talent and strategic resources to help our clients with the many business challenges they face.
“Combining Y&R's strategic and creative skills with the retail expertise of IdeaWorks and the digital firepower of VML – will enable us to deliver great things for our clients.
“The Y&R Executive Team and I have been discussing the vision and our plans to take the agencies to a leadership position in the Sydney market. Together with Jon, Aden and Julian my creative partner, we are really looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
Dowling will commence his new role on January 14.
