MercerBell Appoints Julie Dormand To CEO
Customer experience agency MercerBell Australia has promoted managing director Julie Dormand to CEO.
Dormand is taking over the leadership baton from current CEO and founding partner, Nick Mercer, who is appointed chairman of MercerBell Australia.
David Bell remains in his role as executive creative director.
Set to take on the position of MercerBell CEO on January 1 2019, Dormand will report into Michael Rebelo, CEO Publicis Communications ANZ, and will also become a member of the Publicis Communications Country Leadership team.
Dormand has been with MercerBell since 2001 and is the agency’s longest serving member.
During her tenure, she has been a driving force behind the success of the agency, managing key clients to pitching and winning new business, in addition to promoting a culture of staff empowerment through a focus on benefits.
Contributing to the industry in a number of capacities, Dormand has served as a board member of industry body ADMA, and in 2016, received the ADMA AC&E Jon Clark Outstanding Contribution Award.
MercerBell Australia chairman Nick Mercer says: “The culture of MercerBell is a wonderful reflection of the ways Julie has helped build a business based on strong values of fairness, egalitarianism and respect.
“A long-time supporter of women in leadership, she is a part of Publicis Groupe’s Viva Women.”
Moving in to his new role as chairman of MercerBell, Nick Mercer has also been appointed Country Leader for Publicis Data Spine.
He will report to Matt James, CEO of Publicis Media for Data Spine, and will continue to report to Michael Rebelo, CEO of Publicis Communications ANZ, in his new role as chairman of MercerBell.
The newly announced leadership changes also coincide with Publicis Communications taking full ownership of MercerBell following the completion of a three-year acquisition earn-out period.
During this time, MercerBell has helped to grow the Groupe’s ‘Power of One’ model, sharing new business wins with Publicis agencies, including NRMA Motoring & Services, alongside Saatchi & Saatchi, and an expansion into Victoria that saw the opening of a MercerBell Melbourne office in September 2017.
Commenting on MercerBell’s year on year growth, Dormand says it was rewarding to work alongside founding partners, Nick Mercer and David Bell, as the agency leadership team steered the move away from a successful independent model to becoming a part of the Publicis Groupe.
Dormand says: “MercerBell was already working with Publicis Communications clients and to begin with had a unique positioning in the Australian market as the customer experience agency.
“We’ve only gone from strength to strength after being acquired by the Publicis Groupe.”
Identifying and leading the MercerBell acquisition and managing the process personally, Publicis Communications ANZ CEO Michael Rebelo says: “The acquisition of MercerBell has been a strong success in terms of our ability to fuse the marketing narrative between brand, creativity and digital customer experience.
“We have seen the market change dramatically over these past three years, substantiating our initial theory that clients are looking for partners that can solve and advise across a wider brand and customer experience remit.
“Our clients have benefited and we’ve grown significantly as a result.
“It’s very rewarding to see Julie being promoted to CEO and Nick continue to take on a bigger role in the Publicis Groupe.
“You couldn’t script a better next chapter.”
Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.