ZenithOptimedia appoints Ian Perrin to Australia CEO

Perrin will join the agency at the end of November. The CEO role has been vacant since the departure of Belinda Rowe to a global Zenith role in 2009. He will be supported by the existing management team of strategic director Nicole Milward, COO Andrew Sherman and VivaKi Exchange MD Mark Kennedy.

"We already have a strong senior team in place in Australia, so I was keen to bring someone in who could add value to that team and to our clients," ZenithOptimedia Asia-Pacific CEO Phil Talbot (pictured) told Campaign. "Ian has a clear point of view on the future of the communications business which dovetails with our desire to continually offer something fresh and new. Ian understands our culture, our emphasis on people and delivering innovative work through our deep understanding of Australians."

Perrin said he was excited about the opportunity to work at ZenithOptimedia. "It has, without doubt, the most exciting client list of any media agency in Australia, and a proven track record of delivering both creative and effective solutions for clients," he said in a statement. "ROI is something that too many people in our business pay lip service to, whereas ZenithOptimedia has built its business around this principle. The agency’s passion for insights and understanding the changing nature of Australian consumers in this context is second to none. I am looking forward to getting started and to growing its reputation further.”

Perrin resigned from Naked last week, after two years in the MD role. He has more than 14 years experience in media, beginning his career with Bates Johannesburg as a media planner. Perrin moved to Australia in 2003 to join MindShare as Asia-Pacific strategy director.