James Greet returns to media to head up Mindshare, while John Petropoulos steps down
James Greet, widely credited with beginning the turnaround of OMD in Australia, is to return to the media agency world after an absence of four years, as CEO of Mindshare Australia.
Greet, co-owner of recruitment firm The Ladder, starts on June 1 in a move which sees John Petropoulos depart the agency.
Petropoulos has been with the agency for 12 years, initially as the MD of the Melbourne office and since late 2008, as CEO of the media agency’s national operations.
In other changes, Mark McCraith, currently general manager of Mindshare Melbourne will assume the role of MD for the office, reporting directly to Greet. Tracie Michael, Sydney MD, will also report to Greet.
this is absolutely awesome for mindshare – james greet is a bloody smart guy and i can’t wait to see what he does.
Things a bit quiet in the recruitment industry. Here’s a prediction for his first year
1. Consolidate the GroupM boys club power base
2. Massive changes in senior staff and more brits on board
3. Try to win an internationally aligned piece of business (which Mindshare haven’t been able to do for years) and is their only real claim to fame.
Assuming some success with the above
4. Compete with Jenner to fill the vacant GroupM Oz CEO role.
He has one thing on his side. Mindshare are the favoured GroupM child and he can play the “Investment Required” card.
Watch this space.
Good result for the Mindshare crew
This is great news for Mindshare. The guy will succeed.
I finally thought WPP had woken up and replaced the Australian Mindshare Mgt (who fail to do here what they do elsewhere in the region/world i.e. lead) …and then I saw the Melbourne replacement… pity.
Congraulations on the new gig James.
I hope you got the commission on the placement too
Nice one Greety. Well done Mindshare.
Good on you James. Excellent news to have you back in the media world. It will be a stronger industry for your return.
@ Guy…Macca’s a good bloke, give him a go!
Footnote to the above. I think this means every media agency group CEO , with the exception of Mitchells, is now Sydney based. It’s not quite there yet for all CEO’s to be poms, but surely only a matter of tiem.
Let’s not forget Petshop’s contribution to JWT/Mindshare over the last 25 years. An incredible innings in todays environment
A legendary innings I should say- all the very best Petrop!
Don’t drink too deeply from that chalice. It may just be poison it holds.
Good luck trying to change the brand image from a bland ‘globally aligned partner’ to local innovative shop. That’s the problem with WPP, they want to be everything to everyone….and they can’t!
I wonder if they’ll ever appoint a woman to head up things.
well done James, you’ll do well.
Will be very interesting to see the dynamic between McCraith, Michael and Greet, none of whom are particularly comfortable with compromise.
Ok Guys & Girls,
We are going through a period of change in media!
Everything is being commoditised, cheaper rates, client fees etc… new revenue angles MUST BE FOUND!
Otherwise us the people who live and breathe it will not benefit moving forward!
lets relate that to a football club, where you rebuild and thats where Mindshare is at!
They have decided the course of action moving forward which is postive!
Lets all embrace this and all of us over the next twelve months can truly comment whehter this is the right decsion moving forward.
Cheers,
Mindshare
Unless the football club you relate it to is Portsmouth. In which case you call in the receivers.