Ogilvy has announced the appointment of Kirsty Muddle as its new Chief Executive Officer for Australia and New Zealand, marking a significant leadership change for the agency’s regional operations. Muddle succeeds Sally Kissane, who stepped down earlier this year after three decades with the business.
In her new role, Muddle will oversee Ogilvy’s full spectrum of capabilities across Australia and New Zealand, including advertising, PR, social and influencer, customer engagement, consulting, and health. She will officially take up the role in early 2026.
Muddle joins from Dentsu, where she has been serving as CEO of Practices & Products for ANZ. At Dentsu, she led across creative, PR, government, customer experience, Salesforce, commerce, B2B marketing, and data-driven solutions. Prior to this, she was a founding partner at cummins&partners, where she helped the agency establish its reputation as one of Australia’s leading creative shops.
Speaking on the appointment, Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO of Ogilvy Group, said Muddle’s strong track record of driving client value, along with her ability to bring together diverse creative and technology capabilities, makes her the right leader for Ogilvy at this pivotal moment.
WPP’s ANZ President Rose Herceg added that Muddle represents the “rare blend” of creativity and business acumen required for today’s evolving communications landscape.
For Ogilvy ANZ, the appointment comes at a time of momentum, with recent wins including Tourism New Zealand and Specsavers, alongside multiple recognitions at the 2025 APAC Effie Awards.
Reflecting on her new role, Muddle said Ogilvy’s enduring belief in the power of creativity to drive growth was a key reason she felt aligned with the agency’s vision. “Ogilvy has always embraced change with clarity and purpose. It feels like home,” she noted.
Her appointment signals a new chapter for Ogilvy in Australia and New Zealand, as the agency looks to build on its creative strength and broaden its impact across the region.