Ogilvy has announced the appointment of Kirsty Muddle as its new CEO for Australia and New Zealand, succeeding Sally Kissane who departed earlier this year. Muddle will oversee Ogilvy’s expansive operations in the region, including advertising, PR, social and influencer marketing, customer engagement, consulting, and health services.
The announcement comes as Ogilvy continues to strengthen its leadership team, following Kissane’s departure after nearly three decades with the company. Muddle transitions to Ogilvy from Dentsu, where she served as CEO of Practices & Products for Australia and New Zealand, leading a wide array of practices across creative, PR, government, customer experience, and more.
Leadership Transition at Ogilvy
Muddle’s appointment marks a significant shift in leadership for Ogilvy. Known for her innovative approach and ability to build strong, creative teams, she brings over 25 years of diverse experience in the industry. Her career has been marked by a commitment to fostering brand growth and meaningful customer connections.
Laurent Ezekiel, global CEO of the Ogilvy Group, expressed confidence in Muddle’s capabilities, stating,
“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.”
Industry Impact and Vision
Rose Herceg, WPP president for Australia and New Zealand, highlighted Muddle’s unique blend of modern marketing acumen and business experience.
“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,”
Herceg remarked.
Muddle herself expressed enthusiasm for joining Ogilvy, noting the agency’s enduring belief in the power of creativity. She stated,
“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.”
Career Highlights and Achievements
Before her tenure at Dentsu, Muddle was a founding partner at cummins&partners, where she spent 11 years building the agency’s creative reputation. Her career also includes a nine-year stint at Mindshare in the UK and Australia, where she honed her media skills and developed a passion for the interplay between humans and data.
In addition to her leadership roles, Muddle has been recognized as Woman of the Year and Executive of the Year twice. She also serves on the boards of the Australian Council of Advertising, the Australian Association of National Advertisers, and Ridgeway, an Indigenous Social Change agency.
Ogilvy’s Momentum and Future Prospects
Muddle will begin her role at Ogilvy in early 2026, joining the agency at a time of significant momentum. Ogilvy was recently appointed by Tourism New Zealand and Specsavers, and received accolades at the 2025 APAC Effie Awards, including Network of the Year.
Meanwhile, Dentsu has confirmed that David Halter, currently ANZ Chief Strategy Officer, will expand his role to Chief Practice Officer – Creative, following Muddle’s departure. Vanessa Nicol will step in as interim Chief Operations Officer – Creative, ensuring continuity and leadership within Dentsu’s creative operations.
As Muddle prepares to lead Ogilvy into its next chapter, the agency’s focus remains on leveraging creativity to drive client growth and impact. Her leadership is expected to bring fresh perspectives and strengthen Ogilvy’s position in the competitive landscape of advertising and marketing.
