CLEAVER RESIGNS, O’HALLORAN TAKES UP THE REINS FOR DDB AUSTRALASIA

CEO of DDB New Zealand Group, Martin O’Halloran (pictured) has been appointed Chairman/CEO of DDB Australia and New Zealand, a role that will see him relocate to Sydney. Current DDB Australia chairman and CEO Nick Cleaver has decided to resign, effective from March 2006 after 16 years with the agency.
President of DDB Asia Pacific, Mr John Zeigler, says O’Halloran has done a superb job building the New Zealand DDB business to become one of DDB’s top 5 agencies worldwide. “Marty is one of the best managers we have in the DDB Worldwide network. He has built a leading edge agency that has achieved Asia Pacific regional top three creative status and has a people culture second to no other agency.”
Added Ziegler: "Nick has been with DDB for 16 years and in that time has helped transform DDB Australia from a leading advertising business to the country’s pre eminent integrated services provider in the communications industry. Nick will be missed but his contribution to the growth and sophistication of our operation in Australia will long be remembered.
"Under Nick’s leadership you have all continued to grow our creative reputation winning many Industry awards, growing new business and adding new businesses. It’s been gratifying under Nick’s leadership to see companies like Tribal DDB, Remedy, Mango and Rapp Collins come of age and performing strongly. Nick will be remembered for many positive things, most of all the talented management team that’s in place."
O’Halloran says it’s a great honour to be offered this challenging new role, which sees him assume responsibility for the Australian operation as well as maintaining overall responsibility for the New Zealand business.
“Part of my new challenge will be to continue the growth that’s been experienced in both the New Zealand and Australian businesses to date. We want to sustain our strong regional standing within both markets, while developing further opportunities to generate ongoing business initiatives.
“I believe there will be huge two-way trans-Tasman opportunities for DDB that I will be able to take advantage of in my new role.”
O’Halloran’s career with DDB spans 20 years, 17 of them in New Zealand – the other three in Australia. He has been CEO of the group for the past four years. In 2004 he was awarded CEO of the year, DDB was named B&T agency of the year and was the leading agency at the 2005 Axis Creative awards.
He is highly regarded within the local advertising community, having been president of CAANZ for four years and currently its vice president.
The new role will see O’Halloran based in Sydney but he will spend regular periods in New Zealand. It is expected that a new group managing director will be appointed to DDB New Zealand within the next three months.