Y&R restructures local operations – Julian Watt appointed Group ECD, Y&R Group Sydney

Y&R Brands ANZ CEO Russel Howcroft has announced a restructuring of the Australian operation aimed at delivering greater efficiency and synergy across the Group.

Naseema Sparks (left) is appointed as Group MD, Y&R Group Sydney. Sparks is in charge of the management of the IdeaWorks and George Patterson businesses in the Sydney market.

Julian Watt (above) is appointed Group ECD, Y&R Group Sydney. Watt will partner with Sparks with responsibility for creative management of the IdeaWorks and George Patterson businesses in the Sydney market.

Jon Bird is appointed National Chairman of IdeaWorks. Bird is responsible for championing the IdeaWorks brand throughout Australia and New Zealand, in particular focusing on the IdeaWorks growth markets in Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland.

Jason Buckley has been appointed CFO of the Y&R Brands Goup Australia and New Zealand responsible for the financial management of George Patterson Y&R, IdeaWorks, Blaze Advertising, VML, Brand Asset Consulting, The Campaign Place, Wunderman and Y&R New Zealand.

Says Howcroft: “Our new structure reflects the nature of the Australian marketplace and the breadth of skills on offer in our Group. Recently we have changed the organization of our Brisbane operations with a manager in charge of the performance of each of our companies in that market. This announcement reflects the same need in Sydney.

“Our new structure offers clients the chance to buy a single market-leading entity or to deal with our Group as a collective to build specialist teams with expertise from several disciplines.”