Mediacom Sydney MD James Sneddon departs after just eight months in the role
Sneddon departing Mediacom
Sneddon: departing to “pursue other opportunities”
Mediacom Sydney’s managing director James Sneddon is departing after just eight months in the role “to pursue other opportunities”.
Sneddon stepped up in August of 2015 as the agency reeled from revelations about campaign misreporting, filling the gap left by the sudden departure of former Sydney MD Geoff Clarke, that May.
The media agency noted that Sneddon’s responsibilities would be temporarily filled by Nicole Boyd, who moved recently to a national client service role, but the annnouncement comes at a time when Mediacom is under pressure, having recently lost its biggest client, Westpac.
Mediacom CEO, Sean Seamer, said in a statement: “I’d like to thank James for his commitment to our people and clients during his years at Mediacom, and particularly for his steady hand and commitment over the past 12 months.”
As Mumbrella revealed last month Mediacom’s parent, GroupM, is moving the Westpac account to a new “multi-agency solution” under the auspices of sister agency Maxus.
The move was a blow to Mediacom, given Westpac was the agency’s largest client, with $80m spend across its various subsidiaries, including St George Bank and Bank of Melbourne, and coming as the agency seeks to rebuild following last year’s misreporting scandal.
Sneddon joined Mediacom as a group director in April 2010, before being promoted last year.
He will leave the agency on June 21.
Nic Christensen
Is Mediacom becoming a toxic brand? Will they ever bounce back from this?
What the hell is going on there?
I think it became a toxic brand a while ago…
Can someone make a reality TV show out of this? Keeping Up With Mediacom – because I certainly can’t.
Good luck with your next move Mr Sneddon
I’ve worked with James in a previous role and have seen first hand the value he brings. Congratulations to the company where James decides to make his next move.
A very decent operator
MediaCom isn’t a toxic place. It’s like any other work place inside and outside the industry, and these things are cyclical – chill guys. Best of luck Sneds.
It’s a long cycle DT. It took years of poor management to get the business in a position that no one can succeed. Hard to grow a crop on toxic ground.
James is a great guy and a strong media professional. Other opportunities should consider themselves lucky.
Seems like much more than a cycle. There have been some smart operators leave over the past 2 years, so much talent has left the building and clients have seen it. Sneddon is yet another excellent professional to go. A big job to rebuild, that’s for sure.
I’m sure people would love to see a Mumbrella report to find out the inside story of the last couple of years.
He is / was the brightest talent at Mediacom. How did they let him leave at such a crucial point?!
Well said monkey. A toxic environment ‘negatively impacts the viability of an organisation’. Can’t really dispute that in MediaCom’s case. All the best Sneds!
Its not just Sydney, where the clients and staff have been leaving. Melbourne over the last two years has lost great senior staff (junior also) and will continue to do so. The senior staff down there need to be held accountable.
Agree w DT. Good luck Sneds!!
Agree with AW. Last 2 years have been a turbulent time for Mediacom in Melbourne and their methods of operating are cumbersome and ineffective. I seriously hope the management team lift their game and make the right changes before it’s too late.
what do you mean panda – the melb structure is awesome … with a non exec retired chairman, MD, GM, Functional Heads, Group Directors, Directors. In fact I’d say they need more top management
New top management is the answer. Hiring a new Chairman, great idea. Promoting MD, GM from within??? GD’s and Directors have turned over multiple times and are still leaving. They have their work cut out for them.