Published on: November 2, 2026
WPP Media New Zealand has named Georgina McKinnon as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding John Halpin, who will be moving back to Australia. McKinnon brings more than two decades of experience in the New Zealand media industry, having most recently served as CEO, Content, at Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific.
Throughout her career, McKinnon has held leadership positions on both the agency and client sides. In her most recent role at Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific, she led the regional content business from New Zealand, driving growth and innovation. Before that, she headed Content @ Omnicom in New Zealand, overseeing branded content, culture and partnerships.
Halpin will continue in the CEO role until January, working alongside Aimee Buchanan, CEO of WPP Media Australia and New Zealand, McKinnon and the local executive team to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
The New Zealand business continues to build on its existing leadership strength and business momentum. Recent additions to its executive team include Hannah Joseph as Managing Director – Clients and Jodie Little as Managing Director – Investment & Operations.
Commenting on the leadership change, Aimee Buchanan, CEO of WPP Media Australia and New Zealand, said: “John leaves WPP Media New Zealand in a strong position, and I’m incredibly grateful for his leadership over the past four years. It’s been a pleasure to work with him, and his impact on our New Zealand business has been deeply felt by our teams, partners and clients. I’m excited to welcome Gina to lead the business into its next chapter. She brings an awesome energy and unique skillset that complements the existing team, and I’m confident she will have a big impact, very quickly.”
John Halpin said: “Leading WPP Media New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We’ve built an exceptional team, strengthened our client and partner relationships, and created real momentum across the business while navigating the changing media landscape together. While returning to Australia is a personal decision for my family and me, I do so knowing the business is in great shape. I look forward to working closely with Gina to support a smooth transition and seeing the team continue to thrive.”
Commenting on her appointment, Georgina McKinnon said: “I am thrilled to be leading the WPP New Zealand team at such a dynamic time for the media industry. I’m excited to build on the strong foundations already in place and work alongside WPP Media New Zealand’s talented teams to challenge how we do things to get the best possible results for our clients. Our focus will be on the transformative power of AI with WPP Open, data, strategy and creativity working together to get meaningful and measurable outcomes for our clients. The sum of all these parts together is where we get results. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter and helping our clients shine on the world stage.”
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