WPP Media New Zealand CEO John Halpin is stepping down after nearly four years leading the business, with Omnicom’s Georgina McKinnon appointed as his successor.
WPP Media New Zealand is preparing for a leadership change, with CEO John Halpin set to return to Australia after nearly four years at the helm.
Stepping into the role is Georgina McKinnon, who brings more than 20 years of experience in the New Zealand market across both agency and client-side roles.
Halpin will remain CEO until January, working closely with WPP Media Australia and New Zealand CEO Aimee Buchanan, McKinnon and the New Zealand executive team to ensure a smooth transition.
McKinnon most recently served as CEO, Content, at Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific, leading the region from New Zealand and driving growth and innovation. Before that, she led Content @ Omnicom in New Zealand, overseeing its branded content, culture and partnerships business.
Buchanan said Halpin leaves the New Zealand business in a strong position, thanking him for his leadership over the past four years.
“John leaves WPP Media New Zealand in a strong position, and I’m incredibly grateful for his leadership over the past four years,” Buchanan said.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with him, and his impact on our New Zealand business has been deeply felt by our teams, partners and clients.
“I’m excited to welcome Gina to lead the business into its next chapter. She brings an awesome energy and unique skillset that complements the existing team, and I’m confident she will have a big impact, very quickly.”
Halpin said leading the New Zealand business had been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career, pointing to the strength of its team and client relationships.
“While returning to Australia is a personal decision for my family and me, I do so knowing the business is in great shape,” he said.
McKinnon said she was looking forward to building on the foundations already in place, with a focus on bringing together AI, data, strategy and creativity.
“Our focus will be on the transformative power of AI with WPP Open, data, strategy and creativity working together to get meaningful and measurable outcomes for our clients,” she said.
“The sum of all these parts together is where we get results. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter and helping our clients shine on the world stage.”
