VP – Engagement Strategist

Cate Stuart-Robertson exits Dentsu Creative ANZ. Publication London, UK ADD TO COLLECTION 24/03/2026 Exclusive: The headhunter placed Kirsty Muddle and David Halter at the holdco before joining them, LBB's Brittney Rigby reports Cate Stuart-Robertson, managing director of Dentsu Creative across Australia and New Zealand, has exited the business as part of a restructure. Cate joined the business three years ago, a year after she'd headhunted then-Dentsu Creative boss Kirsty Muddle and CSO David to place them in the business. She'd spent more than two years at Hourigan International as an associate partner before she was lured back to agency-land as chief client officer, joining Kirsty and David to shape and grow Dentsu Creative across the AUNZ market. Late last year, Kirsty resigned to become Ogilvy CEO (she started this week), while David was promoted to the chief practice officer role in February. "I spent three fantastic years working with Kirsty at DC and will remember it as an incredible period of challenge and growth in my career," Cate told LBB. "I'm so thankful to my sensational clients for their unfailing trust and support, my wonderful team for their energy, and resilience, and wish Rob, David, Chris, and Paul [Whittaker, MD of Merkle ANZ] all the best for Dentsu 2026." David added, "After three years with Dentsu Creative, Cate wrapped up earlier this year. She joined at a pivotal moment and played a significant role in shaping both the business and the team we have today. Cate is a long-time friend with a rare mix of care and capability, and a genuinely special person. She'll make a big impact wherever she goes next." Cate has also served as creative development lead at Google, spent almost 10 years at Clemenger BBDO in account management, and was an account director at The Campaign Palace during the agency's iconic run. As a recruiter and the former leader of Clemenger Group's graduate program, Cate has identified and recruited some of the industry's best talent across agencies and brands. She said she will continue to focus on identifying "who will follow in our footsteps in the wake of this chaotic, joyful, and turbulent time we are living through to keep the industry thriving." Dentsu ANZ's other recent appointments include chief data and technology officer Danica Bellchambers, COO Vanessa Nicol, and a number of promotions: Graham Alvarez-Jarrett to CSO, Emily Cook to Queensland MD, and Madeleine Page to GM - earned and social. The appointments are part of its 'DC26' agenda, which promises to "sharpen how the agency shows up for clients", including AMEX, NBN, nib, Zespri, Chery, Federal Group, Adobe, and The Iconic. "It was about backing the people who have been doing the work and building strong teams around them. Each of them brings deep expertise in their discipline, but more importantly they are collaborative leaders who believe the best ideas come from integration, not hierarchy." Credits Add my Credit

WPP tops WARC Media 100 for ninth consecutive year. WPP has been ranked the world's leading company on the 2026 Media 100 list published by WARC, marking the ninth consecutive year the global communications group has topped the rankings. The annual list evaluates the world's most awarded media companies, agencies and campaigns, and is widely regarded as a benchmark for excellence in media strategy. WPP's media network Mindshare was named Media Network of the Year, while agencies including Mindshare Mumbai, Mindshare New York, Mindshare London and EssenceMediacom New York ranked among the world's leading media agencies. The campaign 'Beauty Test Stops With Me' created for Dove by Mindshare in collaboration with Ogilvy was ranked the number one global media campaign. Said Brian Lesser, Global CEO, WPP Media: "Leading the WARC Media 100 for a ninth straight year is an honour and a testament to the incredible clients, people and innovative work across the entire WPP network. In a world where media is truly everywhere and in everything, these awards powerfully show how we create captivating work that's strategically brilliant, culturally relevant, and deeply impactful. At the heart of every truly successful client partnership lies a powerful idea - one that doesn't just meet objectives but fundamentally transforms a business. Congratulations to our clients and our teams for consistently delivering outstanding work that moves audiences to think and act." Added Ailsa Lochrie, Client President, Unite, at WPP Media: "Topping the WARC Media 100 ranking with the Dove 'Beauty Test Stops With Me' campaign is a remarkable achievement and we are so proud of our partners at Hindustan Unilever for effecting real change in India. What's all the more impressive is the approach. We take great pride in combining cultural nuance, strategic thinking and innovation to deliver measurable, profound impact. In collaboration with our clients, we develop ideas that elevate brands and redefine categories, drawing on exceptional acumen and all that tech and AI can offer to ultimately drive unparalleled growth for them." Said Amin Lakhani, President - Client Solutions, WPP Media South Asia: "To see Mindshare India (Mumbai) recognized as the second most-awarded agency globally in the WARC Media 100 is both humbling and inspiring. It highlights the impact of our teams' relentless focus on delivering ideas that combine creativity, data, and technology to create real value for our clients. Moments like these reaffirm our belief that when bold thinking meets strong collaboration, it can shape not just brands but the future of our industry." Added Vinish Mathews, Head - Team Fulcrum, WPP Media South Asia: "Ranking #1 in the WARC Media 100 with the Dove 'Beauty Test Stops with Me' campaign is a proud moment for all of us. We are grateful to partner with Unilever on work that not only builds brands but also sparks meaningful cultural change in India. This recognition reflects the power of combining deep consumer insight, bold thinking, and innovation. Together with our clients, we continue to create ideas that push boundaries, redefine categories, and harness the possibilities of technology and AI to drive real, lasting growth."

Thasorn Boonyanate becomes CCO of Ogilvy Thailand. March 6, 2026 Pete Thasorn Boonyanate has been appointed as chief creative officer of Ogilvy Thailand following the decision of advertising legend, Gumpon Laksanajinda, to step down from his day-to-day operational role as CCO after 25 years with Ogilvy. Boonyanate resigned from his role as CCO of BBDO Bangkok in November last year and brings to Ogilvy the dynamic vision, extensive experience, and a proven track record of award-winning creativity he is known for. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Pete Thasorn Boonyanate to lead our creative charge," stated Jiravara Virayavardhana, chief executive officer, Ogilvy Thailand. "Pete's fresh perspective, dynamic leadership, and unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries perfectly align with Ogilvy's ambition for the future. He has a profound understanding of modern marketing and the ability to inspire teams to craft impactful work that resonates deeply with consumers. "We extend our deepest gratitude to Gumpon Laksanajinda for his extraordinary 25 years of dedicated service. His creative passion and instrumental role in shaping Ogilvy's legacy have set an incredibly high bar for excellence, driving us to be a top player not just in Thailand, but across Asia Pacific. We wish him the very best in his new chapter." Reed Collins, chief creative officer, Ogilvy Asia Pacific, added, "A heartfelt 'Khob khun krub' to Gumpon, building a truly special creative legacy at Ogilvy and shaping the unique spirit of Thai advertising! And to Pete, a massive, enthusiastic welcome to the team! We can't wait to see you build on that brilliant foundation and lead us into an even more exciting creative future." "I've long admired Ogilvy's enduring legacy and its powerful commitment to 'making brands matter'," Boonyanate stated. "It's an immense privilege and an exciting challenge to now lead the creative team here. My focus will be on fostering a culture of brave ideas, where talent thrives, and where we consistently deliver groundbreaking work that not only solves business problems but truly shapes culture and sets new benchmarks for effectiveness and innovation for our clients."