LONDON – PHD announced on Tuesday that the current managing director of PHD Australia, Toby Hack, has been promoted to CEO of PHD International, a newly created role.
The appointment follows a successful year of growth for PHD. In 2015, PHD won a number of high profile global assignments in last year’s ‘Mediapalooza,’ including Unilever’s search business. The agency also oversaw the communications planning and buying for SC Johnson and over 50% of GSK’s global business (which includes comms planning). Lastly, the search and data analytics assignments and buying in GSK’s biggest market of the US and Canada also fell to PHD.
As CEO, Hack will be tasked to oversee and strengthen the network’s International unit, which handles a number of global clients and services, including global comms planning, media strategy development and international media buying. He will also focus on new business development and look to build on the success of the network, which was named Campaign’s Media Network of the Year in December 2015.
“Our international offering has grown significantly in the last few years as more and more clients see the value of global comms planning and the centralization of certain services, such as search,” said Hilary Jeffrey, President of PHD EMEA. “The time is right to strengthen the team with more senior talent. Toby is a great media practitioner and team builder and the perfect candidate for this brand new role.”
During his stint at PHD Australia that included five years as managing director, Hack played a significant role in the success and growth of the business. This included the agency scooping the biggest account move of 2015, with Unilever appointing PHD after a competitive pitch against incumbent Mindshare and others. In 2015 alone, PHD Australia grew by over $120m in new business, contributing to the network taking the top spot regionally in the new business leagues.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to be the MD of PHD Australia through the last few years of transformative growth and I have loved every second,” Hack stated. “The role of CEO of PHD International will help build on the fantastic global success of the PHD network. The team is incredibly talented and I am really looking forward to this new challenge.”
Mark Jarret, current managing director of OMD Sydney will be taking over Hack’s post at PHD Australia.
“Joining PHD is an exciting prospect as they have experienced tremendous growth since their inception in the Australian market and helping to continue that positive momentum is a great challenge,” shared Jarret. “There are a number of exceptionally talented individuals at PHD both locally and globally so it’s a fantastic time to be joining the team.”
