Ogilvy has named Kirsty Muddle as its new Chief Executive Officer for Australia and New Zealand, succeeding Sally Kissane, who stepped down earlier this year after almost three decades with the company.
In her new role, Muddle will oversee Ogilvy’s operations across both countries, leading the full spectrum of the agency’s capabilities, including advertising, PR, social and influencer marketing, customer engagement, consulting, and health.
Muddle joins Ogilvy from Dentsu, where she has been serving as CEO of Practices & Products for Australia and New Zealand. At Dentsu, she oversaw multiple business areas, including creative, PR, government, customer experience, Salesforce, insights, data and technology, commerce, and B2B marketing and media.
Throughout her career, she has built new businesses from the ground up and led established organisations, gaining recognition for developing innovative strategies that help clients expand their brands, build stronger connections with audiences, and inspire collaborative creative teams.
Reflecting on her new position, Muddle said: “Ogilvy is a place where every leader I’ve encountered has a strong point of view, saw change as an opportunity, and spoke with clarity about AI, data and integration but wasn’t lost in it. Importantly, they also never forgot why this business was born – the power of creativity to drive growth. That enduring belief made Ogilvy feel like home. I’m humbled to partner with an incredible set of clients and the exceptional talent within both Ogilvy and WPP to harness the network’s full power and collectively move us all forward into what’s next.”
Before joining Dentsu over three years ago, Muddle was a founding partner at cummins&partners, where she spent 11 years helping to build the agency’s reputation for creativity. She also worked at Mindshare for nine years in both the UK and Australia, honing her expertise in media strategy and deepening her interest in how people and data interact.
Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO of Ogilvy Group, praised Muddle’s appointment: “Kirsty has an undeniable track record of delivering real value and impact for clients. She deeply understands the complex challenges businesses face today and champions creativity not just for its own sake, but as a powerful force that can solve those challenges. Her ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients, always putting their needs first, and her knack for bringing together diverse capabilities – from social and influencer to cutting-edge technology and data – to create truly impactful solutions, makes her an exceptional leader for Ogilvy in this key market. I look forward to working with her as we enter this next exciting chapter for Ogilvy.”
Rose Herceg, WPP President for Australia and New Zealand, echoed that sentiment, saying: “When we searched for Ogilvy’s new leader, we felt we were asking for a unicorn – a modern marketer built for the emerging world, with strong business experience across the communications spectrum. In Kirsty, we found that rare blend; a genuine love for creativity that moves mountains, coupled with experience harnessing the disciplines that creativity needs to thrive in a dynamic, fast-moving media landscape. She was truly a standout choice, and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have at Ogilvy, bringing the kind of fresh, entrepreneurial perspective every business needs to stay ahead.”
Rob Harvey, CEO of Dentsu ANZ, praised Muddle’s contribution to the company: “Kirsty has been a fantastic leader and a member of our team, helping to establish our Dentsu Creative presence in the ANZ region and recently leading our CXM and B2B practices. I’ve really enjoyed working with Kirst for the last four years and wish her every success in this next chapter.”
Muddle’s appointment signals a significant chapter for Ogilvy in the ANZ market, as the agency aims to expand its creative capabilities and continue delivering results for major clients across the region.
