McCann Sydney managing director Ashley Farr promoted to new CEO role at McCann Australia

McCann Worldgroup has announced the appointment of Ashley Farr as chief executive officer of McCann Australia, further consolidating the agency’s national focus.

Farr steps up from his post as managing director of McCann Sydney and will now focus on McCann’s national operation and output.

The creation of the CEO role comes one year after the merger of McCann with independent agency Smart, which has seen the reinvention of McCann in the Australian market. Farr was part of the Smart management team that took over leadership of McCann in the merger.

Says Ben Lilley, McCann Worldgroup chairman & CEO: “The strategy was always to give McCann dedicated leadership on a national level. We have been operating as a single agency offering across Sydney and Melbourne for some time now, and with Ash at the helm we will sharpen our focus on combining resources from both offices to provide the best possible solutions for our clients.”

Says Farr: “McCann is an advertising icon and it is a great honour to lead the team reinventing it. We have already made huge progress by bringing in the right people with the right skill sets, improving our creative output, bringing in new clients and hanging on the ones that were ready to walk under the old McCann.

“But we are year one of a four-year plan and we have a long way to go. My team and I are ready for the challenge of maintaining the momentum and continuing to grow and strengthen McCann in Australia.

“To make McCann famous again we’ve gone back to what made it famous in the beginning, by focusing on brand building not executions or channels. At a time when people can shop anywhere at any time, brands need to become stronger than ever – in the end, the emotional connect to the brand is what people choose. With 100 years of brand building, McCann is perfectly positioned to help businesses build and strengthen their brands.”

Farr’s new role also frees up Ben Lilley to concentrate on the expansion of McCann Worldgroup – which comprises McCANN, McCANN Health, SMART and MRM ­- as the group’s chairman & CEO.

Recent new business wins by McCann include Lion Nathan National Foods, Twinings, Suzanne Grae and Coca-Cola Amatil Hot Beverages.

The agency will soon announce a number of new account wins.