Ogilvy has announced the appointment of Kirsty Muddle as the new CEO of Ogilvy Network Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), effective early 2026. She succeeds Sally Kissane, who stepped down in July after 30 years with the agency.
In her new role, Muddle will oversee all Ogilvy capabilities across ANZ, including advertising, public relations, social and influencer marketing, customer engagement, consulting, and health communications. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the creative industry, having led both established agencies and new business ventures with a strong focus on innovation, brand growth, and integrated creative solutions.
Muddle joins Ogilvy from Dentsu ANZ, where she served as CEO of Practices & Products, leading creative, PR, government, customer experience, data, technology, commerce, and B2B marketing and media practices. Previously, she was a founding partner at cummins&partners, and held senior roles at Mindshare, earning multiple awards including Woman of the Year and Executive of the Year. She currently serves on the boards of the Australian Council of Advertising (ACA), the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA), and Ridgeway, an Indigenous social change agency.
Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO, Ogilvy Group, commented:
“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 ANZ, added:
“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.”
Reflecting on her appointment, Kirsty 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 at 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.”
This leadership transition reinforces Ogilvy’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and integrated marketing solutions across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring continued growth and client impact in a rapidly evolving communications landscape.
Read more: Global Launchpad for Creatives: Portfolio Night 2025 Powers Up India’s Next-Gen Advertising Talent
