Simon Lawson, PHD Melbourne’s managing director, has left the business after 14 years after his role was made redundant. Kathryn Weatherlake, the agency’s GM, will lead the Melbourne office in the interim period.
Lawson was one of the founding members of PHD Melbourne, joining in 2012 before being promoted to GM in 2017 and MD four years after that.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Lawson said: “I am incredibly proud of all that we achieved at PHD Melbourne over such a long period. What started in the backstreets of Richmond as a start up back in 2012 has, through the efforts of many, grown into one of Australia’s best and most respected media agency offices.
“I will forever value the relationships I’ve built with colleagues, clients and the media over the journey: It has been a privilege and I leave with many happy memories. For now, I will be taking some time to get my garden under control and to see if I can’t perfect the chicken curry recipes I’ve been working on.”
PHD has been on a strong run of new business in the past 12 months, winning the nearly $60 million Bunnings media account—a scoop you read first in B&T.
Lawson’s departure comes months after Laura Nice, former co-CEO of OMD with Sian Whitnall, assumed the reigns at the Omnicom agency from Mark Jarrett, who was promoted to Omnicom Media COO.
B&T understands Lawson’s departure is part of a broader review of Omnicom’s agency leadership and is not directly related to its acquisition of the Interpublic Group.
In a statement provided to B&T earlier this morning, recently appointed PHD CEO Laura Nice said: “As PHD continues to refine its leadership structure, Simon Lawson will be leaving the business. We want to thank Simon for his contribution and leadership to our Melbourne office over many years and wish him every success for the future.”
Lawson is the second significant leadership of the day at Omnicom after Stevie Douglas-Neal succeeded Anathea Ruys as UM CEO.
PHD scored 8.5 in B&T’s Agency Scorecards last year.
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