Category: People Moves

Auckland, New Zealand – Omnicom Media (OM) agency, OMD, has announced the appointment of Blair Alexander as CEO of its New Zealand operations, effective 3 March. He will report to Nikki Grafton, CEO of OM New Zealand. Alexander brings over 20 years of experience in client leadership, agency transformation, and media strategy. Known for his collaborative and client-focused approach, he has previously led FCB Media, UM, and Initiative in New Zealand under IPG ownership. During his tenure, these agencies achieved record revenue and secured major accounts including Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Chorus, the New Zealand Electoral Commission, and One NZ. In 2023, Alexander launched Initiative in New Zealand, securing the ASB account within months. FCB Media also became the most awarded media agency in the country under his leadership, winning more than 50 Gold Beacons, including four Best in Show awards and a global WARC Grand Prix for Best Use of Data. Commenting on the appointment, Nikki Grafton, CEO of OM New Zealand, said, “Securing a leader of Blair’s calibre, with his reputation for trusted client relationships and transformational leadership, was a priority for us. Blair is the ideal choice to bring the full strength of Omnicom’s global capabilities to our OMD clients and partners.” She added, “His ability to harness technology, global intellectual property, and deep strategic insight — and apply them in ways that is relevant to the New Zealand market — will create significant value for our clients. He is also known for building skilled, loyal teams with a deep understanding of clients’ businesses, which consistently delivers strong commercial outcomes.” Blair Alexander said, “OMD has been a fierce competitor in New Zealand for several years, with a great long-term track record and exceptional talent. The evolved structure of the team, powered by the collective resources of Omnicom Media, particularly in the AI and tech space, were compelling reasons to lead this team. The ability to unleash this combined capability and create what’s next for our clients has huge potential. Bring it on!” An announcement regarding Alexander’s successor at McCann, as the FCB Media brand transitions, is expected soon. Source: https://marketech-apac.com/omd-new-zealand-appoints-blair-alexander-as-ceo/

Sydney, 2 February 2026: Lendlease today announced it has appointed Claire Johnston asChief Executive Officer (CEO) Development. Claire will transition from her current role as CEO Americas, Lendlease, in April. Claire is a highly experienced executive that has held a number of senior positions during her almost 30-year career at Lendlease. She has spent the past 10 years in the US overseeing key development projects and partnerships, including as Managing Director of US Military Housing, in partnership with the United States Department of Defense, and as Managing Director of the Google Development Venture. In Australia, Claire held a number of Executive Project Director positions, including overseeing the first stage of Lendlease’s multi-billion dollar mixed-use redevelopment of the Victoria Harbour precinct in Melbourne. Claire brings deep leadership and capital partnering experience as well as real estate and development expertise spanning urban renewal, origination, structuring, sustainable projects and project execution. Most recently Claire has been responsible for the delivery of key joint venture projects in the US, including The Riverie and Habitat build-to-rent developments, alongside partner Aware Super, as well as progressing US capital recycling initiatives. As CEO Development, Claire will return home to Australia to drive the growth and performance of the Development business, with momentum continuing to build, having secured ~$5 billion of new Australian project wins this financial year to date. Claire’s appointment follows Tom Mackellar’s decision to pursue an external opportunity. Since joining Lendlease in 2006, Tom has been a valued team member and has worked in roles spanning Mergers and Acquisitions, Finance and Development. Most recently as CEO Development, Tom has led a high performing team that has been successful in winning new projects and positioning the business for its next phase of growth. Beyond Lendlease, he has contributed to the industry as a board member of the Property Council of Australia and Committee for Sydney, in addition to supporting the work of FutureSteps. Lendlease thanks Tom for his contribution to Lendlease over his almost 20-year career and wishes him the best in his new venture. Quotes attributable to Tony Lombardo, Group CEO Lendlease:“We are pleased to welcome Claire back to Australia as CEO Development, to drive the growth and performance of our Development business. Claire brings a depth of real estate knowledge, development and investment experience that we will leverage to further our ambitions to grow our business, continue the restocking of our pipeline and deliver sustainable returns for securityholders.” Source: https://www.lendlease.com/au/media-centre/media-releases/lendlease-appoints-claire-johnston-chief-executive-officer-development/

Dec 17 (Reuters) – U.S.-based Bally’s and the Mathieson family tightened their grip on Australia’s Star Entertainment on Wednesday, installing Bruce Mathieson Jr as CEO and Bally’s chair Soo Kim as the embattled casino operator’s chairman. Shares of the Australian firm rose more than 14% to a three-month high of A$0.120, as of 0052 GMT. Star’s board now consists of Mathieson Jr, Kim, and Bally’s President George Papanier. The appointments come a day after Chief Executive Steve McCann stepped down, following his efforts to steer the debt-laden firm through financial and regulatory turmoil. The Mathieson family and Bally’s are Star’s largest shareholders, holding stakes of 23% and 38%, respectively. Both parties have been instrumental in providing a financial rescue package to the struggling Australian firm, which was on the verge of bankruptcy. Over the years, Star has been grappling with back-to-back probes into its management and operations, including accusations of money laundering and fraud. In the last two years, the company has seen multiple executive changes and poured millions into compliance upgrades and new systems to restore its battered reputation and secure casino licences. Since then, the company has slightly strengthened its balance sheet, with annual losses narrowing in fiscal 2025 and into the first quarter of the current year. The cash-strapped firm continued to trim losses in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 on a sequential basis on improved performance across its operations, but uncertainty about its future persists. Source: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/australias-star-entertainment-names-bruce-mathieson-jr-as-new-ceo-4411682

PointsBet Holdings has announced the appointment of Andrew Catterall, currently CEO of its Australia business, as group CEO with effect from 1 February next year. Catterall has been CEO of PointsBet Australia since July 2022. In this time, PointsBet said, he led the business through a period of “operational transformation”. Prior to PointsBet, Catterall held various senior roles across the media, sports, entertainment and technology sectors. Most recently before PointsBet, he was CEO of the Racing.com joint venture between Seven West Media and Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Industry. He also spent time as chief operating officer of Beyond Boundaries Group and chief commercial and strategy officer of Racing Victoria. Other roles included general manager for strategy and marketing at the Australian Football League and as a consultant for both Gemba Group and the Boston Consulting Group, “We are delighted to appoint Andrew as group CEO,” PointsBet Chairman Brett Paton said. “He has delivered strong performance within our Australian operations and brings extensive industry expertise, strategic capability and leadership qualities that will guide PointsBet into its next phase. “The board congratulates Andrew on his appointment and looks forward to working closely with him as he leads the group forward.” Outgoing CEO to remain on PointsBet boardCatterall will succeed Sam Swanell, who has led PointsBet as CEO and managing director since July 2016. Swanell will continue to support the business throughout a transition and handover period Once this period has concluded, Swannell will move into an advisory role within the group. In addition, he will remain on the company’s board as an executive director. “On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Sam for his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment and deep contribution to PointsBet since founding the company,” Paton said. “Sam has guided PointsBet through every stage of its development and growth. His continued involvement in an advisory capacity, as well as his ongoing service on the board, will ensure the business continues to benefit from his insight and experience.” All change after MIXI takeoverCatterall’s appointment is the latest change at PointsBet since MIXI Australia became the majority shareholder in the business. MIXI completed its takeover offer for PointsBet in September, securing 66.43% of the overall voting power in the operator. In October, PointsBet made changes to its board of directors, including the addition of three executives from MIXI. Sho Okuyama, Kanji Kobayashi and Taishi Oba all joined the board as non-executive directors of the business. Patton remained as chairman, while Swannell also retained his place as a director. However, Becky Harris, Tony Symons, Kosha Gada, Peter McCluskey and William Grounds all resigned as directors. However, the takeover was far from a smooth process for MIXI, having faced competition from Betr Entertainment throughout. Betr hoped for a full takeover but had to settle for an increased holding after MIXI came out on top. Betr now holds 27.72% of the total holding in the business, having previously owned 19.9% prior to its takeover offer. MIXI will have the majority in company matters but Betr will still have its say. Source: https://igamingbusiness.com/people/people-moves/pointsbet-appoints-new-group-ceo/

Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has appointed Daniel J. O’Connor as President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are delighted to welcome Dan as CEO of Jubilant Therapeutics Inc.,” said Hari S Bhartia, Chairman, Jubilant Therapeutics Inc. “His extensive experience in building and scaling biopharmaceutical companies, combined with his deep expertise in oncology and strategic partnerships, will be instrumental in advancing our mission to deliver transformative therapies to patients.” ExperienceO’Connor brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in biotechnology and oncology, with a proven track-record of creating value around differentiated, IP-rich platforms. Most recently, he served as CEO of Ambrx Biopharma, where his leadership drove a significant increase in company valuation culminating in its successful acquisition. Earlier in his career, O’Connor was instrumental at ImClone Systems, contributing to the clinical development, launch, and commercialization of a major oncology therapy while navigating complex intellectual property and inventorship challenges. He also served as CEO of Advaxis, a NASDAQ listed immune-oncology company, where he transformed the organization into a late-stage clinical enterprise, secured substantial growth capital, and forged strategic collaborations with leading pharmaceutical partners. O’Connor holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Penn State Dickinson Law of The Pennsylvania State University and has served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. O’Connor said, “I am honored to lead Jubilant Therapeutics Inc., a company dedicated to driving breakthrough innovation for cancers that are difficult to treat. I look forward to collaborating closely with our talented team to advance our mission and deliver meaningful value to patients, partners and stakeholders alike.” Source: https://www.contractpharma.com/breaking-news/jubilant-therapeutics-appoints-new-president-ceo/

Dec 10 (Reuters) – Coca-Cola (KO.N), opens new tab named insider Henrique Braun as its new CEO on Wednesday, replacing James Quincey, as packaged food companies try to adjust their strategies to consumers looking for healthier and more affordable drinks and snacks. The company’s portfolio of zero-sugar beverages, as well as its more premium product lines such as Fairlife milk, have held Coca-Cola in better shape in a choppy consumer landscape, in contrast to rivals such as PepsiCo (PEP.O) Source: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/coca-cola-names-insider-henrique-braun-new-ceo-2025-12-10/

Sedgwick has named Aruna Chandrapalan (pictured) as CEO of Singapore. She will continue to serve as partner, forensic accounting services (FAS) across Asia. Chandrapalan is a chartered loss adjuster and chartered accountant and has more than two decades of experience in the insurance sector. She joined Sedgwick in 2017 as a senior manager and, in 2023, was appointed head of forensic accounting services in Asia. Her work has included financial lines claims, property damage claims, and stock valuations for corporate and commercial clients. Commenting on her appointment, Chandrapalan said: “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO for Singapore and continue supporting our clients. I look forward to building on Sedgwick’s strong foundation and driving growth with our talented team.” Source: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/asia/news/breaking-news/sedgwick-names-new-ceo-for-singapore-558139.aspx

EssenceMediacom’s Stephanie Douglas-Neal will join the leadership team in 2026, which will also comprise Initiative’s Jo McAlister, and UM’s Anathea Ruys, LBB’s Tom Loudon reports Kristiaan Kroon has been named CEO of Omnicom Media in Australia, with former PHD CEO Mark Jarrett moving into the COO role. The appointments come amid a slew of leadership announcements following global structural changes to Omnicom as the holding company begins to operationalise its acquisition of IPG. The Omnicom Media top job has remained vacant since the departure of Peter Horgan in March, though Kristiaan has led the business during the period as COO. He has also made several key hires including CFO Donna Bartlett, who has acted in the role for six months. The COO role will now be occupied by Mark Jarrett, who has spent the last six of his nearly 10 years with PHD as its Australian CEO. Recently, he was confirmed to be leaving the post for a group-level role, with OMD co-CEO Laura Nice moving across to stablemate PHD, leaving Sian Whitnall to solely run OMD. Earlier this week, IPG MediaBrands APAC CEO Leigh Terry and IPG MediaBrands Australia CEO Mark Coad exited the business as a result of the structural changes brought about by the merger, along with Magna MD Lucy Formosa Morgan. Initiative CEO, Jo McAlister, and UM CEO, Anathea Ruys, will join Omnicom Media’s leadership group locally, though Omnicom has yet to determine the fate of IPG MediaBrands Australian COO, Geoff Clarke. Managing director of WPP’s EssenceMediacom Australia, Stephanie Douglas-Neal, has also joined the business. Although her role has not been officially revealed, she is expected to move into Hearts & Science as CEO following Jane Stanley’s exit earlier this year. Prior to her three years with EssenceMediacom, Stephanie spent seven years at PHD, finishing as MD. This week, Omnicom Oceania CEO Nick Garrett confirmed the region’s six media agency brands will continue to operate independently post-IPG merger: OMD, PHD, UM, Initiative, Hearts & Science, Mediahub, and, globally, Axciom. Globally, the business has sunset creative agency brands DDB, FCB, and MullenLowe. In Australia, DDB will be folded into Clemenger BBDO, run by DDB’s local bosses and new Clemenger co-CEOs Sheryl Marjoram and Mike Napolitano.​ DDB and FCB will merge in New Zealand to create McCann New Zealand, run by Priya Patel and Paul Wilson. In Wellington, New Zealand, Clemenger Wellington and FCB Wellington will be merged to become McCann Wellington, operating as part of McCann Group NZ. Local leadership for McCann Wellington will be announced soon. Attivo Group-owned 303 MullenLowe has rebranded to 303 in Australia, its original name, in what the agency said marks a return to its “independent roots” following the retirement of the ‘MullenLowe’ brand. Source: https://lbbonline.com/news/kristiaan-kroon-mark-jarrett-omnicom-media-australia

Starting 1 January 2026, Lendi Group Co-founder Sebastian Watkins will take on the role of chief executive officer, replacing David Hyman. Watkins previously served as chief operating officer of the group. The privately-held Australian fintech home loans group — parent company to the Aussie and Lendi brands — said Hyman, who is also a cofounder, will continue as a board director and special advisor of Lendi Group, focusing on company growth and artificial intelligence. “This leadership transition reflects thoughtful succession planning and the strength of the successful founding partnership built by David and Sebastian over the last decade,” said Ellie Comerford, Lendi Group chair. Hyman said he will be “exploring new ventures in 2026,” but did not respond to requests for more detail. “After 13 years building Lendi Group, I’ve decided to transition from my current CEO role, while remaining on the Board focusing on priority areas where I can add the most value to the business,” Hyman said. “Sebastian (or Bas) is a world-class leader and a true champion for customers and broker success,” he continued “Bas has been integral to the business since the beginning, has the depth of experience to lead this business and is the right leader to drive this next chapter.” Watkins added: “As CEO, my focus now will be delivering for customers and brokers, scaling the Find, Buy, Own [platform] to its full potential and building on the momentum in the business. I’m proud to lead Lendi Group into its next chapter with our people, brokers, lending and product partners, and the support of an exceptional leadership team.” Watkins and Hyman cofounded Lendi in 2013. The firm merged with Aussie Home Loans in May 2021 to become the Lendi Group. Source: https://www.brokernews.com.au/news/breaking-news/lendi-group-appoints-new-ceo-288517.aspx

Mitsubishi Australia will have a new chief in 2026 as it looks to capitalise on a raft of new models in local showrooms, led by the new ASX small SUV and a more capable Outlander PHEV. Shunichi Kihara has been confirmed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL), effective January 5, 2026. Mr Kihara will come into the role after serving as the Assistant Division General Manager of the Japanese automaker’s North Asia Division, and replaces interim MMAL CEO Yoshinori Yamazaki. The incoming CEO has also held global sales roles at Mitsubishi. “I’m delighted to accept the position of CEO at MMAL and look forward to meeting you when I arrive in Australia,” Mr Kihara said in a statement. “Mitsubishi Motors has been a strong and trusted brand in Australia for 45 years, and together we will build on that legacy to drive it into the future.” The change at the top comes after Shaun Westcott, who led MMAL for five years including as chairman until 2024, resigned in September. A number of fresh models will see Mr Kihara look to grow Mitsubishi’s market share here, including the recently launched ASX – based on the Renault Captur – and the updated Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) due on sale here early next year. Sales are down 16.3 per cent year-to-date, yet Mitsubishi is still outperforming rivals including sister Alliance brands Renault (-16.5 per cent) and Nissan (-17.7 per cent), and Volkswagen (-19 per cent). Mitsubishi remains a top 10 brand in Australia, placing sixth in October 2025 sales with help from the Triton ute, which forms the basis of the new Nissan Navara and was its best-seller for the month. It sits sixth overall year-to-date on 52,364 sales, behind Hyundai (64,861) and ahead of GWM (43,774) – after placing fifth for the full year in 2024. Year-to-date, the Outlander remains its most popular model, and there’s a larger battery pack coming as part of the facelifted electrified mid-size SUV in early 2026. In North America, Mitsubishi launched a more rugged version of the Outlander as a rival to the Subaru Outback, which could also become part of the Australian lineup, although this has not been confirmed. Model sharing with Nissan may also see the next-generation Nissan Patrol off-road SUV sold as a Pajero to give Mitsubishi a legitimate Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series rival. A potential replacement for the Pajero Sport was shown at the 2025 Japanese Mobility Show in Tokyo last month, too, while the company is also looking to add hybrid tech to models including the ASX and Triton, and to launch its first new-generation EV, a small electric SUV, in the second half of next year. Source: https://www.therural.com.au/story/9121208/mitsubishi-australia-announces-new-ceo/