Pulse Promotes Dan Young To MD, Replaces Jacqui Abbott

Pulse, the consumer brand marketing arm of opr, has announced the promotion of Dan Young to managing director, as a replacement for Jacqui Abbott.

Effective mid-March and reporting to opr CEO Richard Brett, Young will take the helm of Pulse as it continues its transformation to an earned-led digital and social agency, focused on helping brands achieve cultural relevance.

“Since we rebranded and relaunched Pulse around ‘Culture, Creativity, Clout’ in 2019, the agency has seen significant growth in delivering integrated work across media relations, social, digital and performance marketing,” Brett said. “We are expecting this to continue into 2021 as the market continues to recover and look for increasingly innovative solutions.

“Dan’s significant clout and skills within the digital space not only serves the Pulse strategy well, but as a seasoned and proven leader he further reinforces the agency’s people-centric culture. The team is thrilled he will be leading them through this next phase of business expansion as managing director for Pulse.”

Young first joined opr early in 2017, and quickly made an impact implementing digital and social change across the agency and leading digital campaigns including Envoy, the agency’s influencer marketing tool, and Culture Converted, Pulse’s performance marketing planning model launched in 2020.

He was promoted to the newly created role of chief digital officer for opr in December 2019.

“I am excited to be given this opportunity where I can draw on my digital, social experience and passion to continue Pulse’s transformation, with the additional benefit of leading such a brilliant team of exceptionally talented people,” Young said.

Young replaces Jacqui Abbott, who is leaving Pulse in mid-March to take up the role of Group Director of Content Communications at Foxtel Group, including their streaming services, Kayo and Binge and all Foxtel brands.

Abbott has held the role for three years and been with the agency for six years after joining in early 2015.

“Together with my team I look forward to continuing Jacqui’s legacy of successfully transforming Pulse into an earned-led digital and social agency and achieving outstanding and ambitious outcomes for our clients.”

Brett said while he was naturally disappointed and saddened that Abbott was leaving Pulse, he wished her all the best and thanked her for her commitment to the business and Pulse team, and her valued counsel as part of his leadership team.

“Jacqui will be massively missed,” he said. “For the past four years she has led Pulse with a singular goal in sight: to bring out the best in her people and provide the best work for Pulse’s clients.

“Her contribution to the business, her colleagues and her clients is immeasurable and although we will lose her as a colleague she will always be a close friend of opr’s team. We wish her every success.”

Pulse will be hiring additional capabilities into the agency as part of the changes, including additional senior digital, creative and publicity support.

Recently promoted John Harding Easson (head of social at opr) will begin to take on more of Young’s digital leadership for the wider opr group.

Advertise with us

Please login with linkedin to comment

Dan Young Jacqui Abbott opr Pulse richard brett