WPP Media New Zealand Appoints Georgina McKinnon as Chief Executive Officer
WPP Media New Zealand appoints new CEO to lead its next chapter of growth
WPP Media New Zealand has appointed Georgina McKinnon as Chief Executive Officer. McKinnon succeeds John Halpin, who has decided to return to Australia with his family after nearly four years leading the business.
McKinnon has over 20 years’ experience in the NZ market, having worked both agency and client side. Most recently she was CEO, Content, at Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific, leading the region from New Zealand and delivering growth and innovation. Prior to that she led content @ Omnicom in New Zealand, leading the branded content, culture & partnerships business.
Halpin will remain CEO until January and work closely with WPP Media Australia and New Zealand CEO Aimee Buchanan, McKinnon and the New Zealand executive team to support a smooth transition. WPP Media New Zealand remains in a strong position, with an experienced leadership team, strong momentum and great people across the business. Recent appointments of Hannah Joseph as Managing Director – Clients, and Jodie Little as Managing Director – Investment & Operations, have further strengthened the executive team.
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.”
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.”
