We’ll take it from here
“For us, it’s about not so much anti-group, or anti-network, or anti-WPP,” Rodney says as we walk through the agency days after it become an independent. “It’s really giving us the opportunity to have full ownership, full independence, bring the brand home and I guess create a brand which more accurately reflects our identity.”
The opportunity opened up when Greg Partington, who previously owned a 15 percent stake in the agency, acquired WPP AUNZ’s 85 percent stake, removing the agency from the holding company’s fold and Ogilvy family. At the same time, Partington, the former managing director, gave the title to Rodney.
Signaling the change, the iconic red building on Stanley Street has a new shop front but while a sign can go up overnight, the new agency is months in the making – even more than anticipated.
Rodney, who has only been with the agency since January, says conversations with WPP started last year and admits the management team hoped it wouldn’t take as long to turn their desire into a reality.
“It’s taken hard work, perseverance and stress to get here but it speaks to the desire to do what we are doing.”
In the announcement of Ogilvy New Zealand becoming Stanley St, WPP’s New Zealand managing director Sven Baker wished Partington and his team “all the very best as
