Tim Castree, global CEO of MEC and GroupM’s ‘NewCo’, today announced that Peter Vogel (main photo) will take on the role of CEO of the new combined MEC and Maxus ‘NewCo’ agency in Australia and New Zealand when it launches in January 2018. In addition Vogel will lead the South East Asia NewCo hub in the Global NewCo organisation.
Vogel will lead a new Australian and New Zealand NewCo management team, which will be finalised over the coming weeks. Vogel has been the MEC APAC CEO since mid-2015 and prior to that was MEC AUNZ CEO for over six years. The role becomes effective in January 2018.
Tim Castree, CEO of MEC and NewCo, said: “We’re merging Maxus and MEC to form a brand new billion-dollar revenue media content and technology agency, dubbed ‘NewCo’ for now. With such ambition, comes a need for brilliant talent to lead and inspire, and so today’s news is very exciting for us. Under Peter’s leadership, I am confident that we have the right team in place to truly blend the best of MEC and Maxus and make NewCo in ANZ a formidable future-facing agency.”
James Hier (current CEO MEC Australia) has been appointed chief growth and product officer for NewCo and will report to Vogel. In his new role, Hier will be responsible for the top line growth of Newco through new business and the delivery of world-class product for clients across media, technology, and content. James will also be responsible for the marketing of Newco, including continuing his involvement with the TV series marketing dividends on Sky Business with the AANA.
Hier and Vogel have a long history of successfully working together building great agencies and look forward to continuing that story.
Mark McCraith the current CEO of Maxus Australia will be leaving the business. McCraith will work with Vogel and Hier over the coming weeks to help establish the new Leadership Team for NewCo. McCraith has been the CEO of Maxus for the past two years and has done a great job in building the Maxus brand and culture in Australia. McCraith has built exceptional relationships and partnerships with clients like Jetstar, Hungry Jacks, Danone and lead the establishment of Westpac’s media agency – Media Lab.
Peter Vogel is a marketing professional with over 25 years of experience. In that time, he has worked as a client, and in creative and media agencies across a number of international markets and regions. Peter has been with MEC for over 17 years, ever since the network acquired the specialist media strategy independent he founded in South Africa – Nota Bene.
Vogel is inspired by developing agency businesses and by growing clients’ brands, something he has achieved through delivering innovative product offerings and excellent agency talent.
He is excited to return to Australia and will bring a wealth of learnings and experience from the fast growing markets of Asia Pacific, which are all important economic partners for Australian businesses.
