Ogilvy has appointed Kirsty Muddle as its new CEO of Ogilvy Network ANZ, marking the start of a new era for the creative network following Sally Kissane’s departure earlier this year.
Muddle, a widely respected creative industry leader, will oversee Ogilvy’s trans-Tasman operations across advertising, PR, social and influencer, customer engagement, consulting, and health.
The appointment continues Ogilvy’s momentum after a strong year of client wins and award recognition, including Tourism New Zealand and Specsavers, and multiple accolades at the 2025 APAC Effie Awards.
A ‘modern marketer built for the emerging world’
Muddle joins from Dentsu, where she serves as CEO of Practices & Products for Australia and New Zealand, leading disciplines across creative, PR, government, customer experience, Salesforce, data and tech, commerce, and B2B marketing and media.
Her 25-year career spans agency leadership, media strategy, and creative innovation – a mix Ogilvy’s leadership believes is essential for navigating today’s hybrid media and marketing landscape.
Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO of the Ogilvy Group, said Muddle’s leadership approach stood out for its mix of commercial rigour and creative clarity.
“Kirsty has an undeniable track record of delivering real value and impact for clients. She deeply understands the complex challenges businesses face today and champions creativity not just for its own sake, but as a powerful force that can solve those challenges,” he said.
“Her ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients, always putting their needs first, and her knack for bringing together diverse capabilities, from social and influencer to cutting-edge technology and data, to create truly impactful solutions, makes her an exceptional leader for Ogilvy in this key market.”
Rose Herceg, WPP President for Australia and New Zealand, added that Muddle represented “the rare blend” of creative instinct and operational excellence the network was seeking.
“When we searched for Ogilvy’s new leader, we felt we were asking for a unicorn, a modern marketer built for the emerging world, with strong business experience across the communications spectrum,” Herceg said.
“In Kirsty, we found that rare blend; a genuine love for creativity that moves mountains, coupled with experience harnessing the disciplines that creativity needs to thrive in a dynamic, fast-moving media landscape.”
From founding partner to network leader
Before joining Dentsu, Muddle co-founded cummins&partners, helping to establish its reputation as a creatively ambitious, client-focused agency.
She also spent nine years at Mindshare in the UK and Australia, sharpening her understanding of data, audience insight, and the evolving media ecosystem.
Her leadership experience spans creative and media, giving her a unique perspective on how brand storytelling intersects with technology and human behaviour.
Muddle said Ogilvy’s enduring focus on creativity as a growth driver made it the right next move.
“Ogilvy is a place where every leader I’ve encountered has a strong point of view, saw change as an opportunity, and spoke with clarity about AI, data and integration but wasn’t lost in it,” she said. “Importantly, they also never forgot why this business was born, the power of creativity to drive growth. That enduring belief made Ogilvy feel like home.”
She added she was “humbled to partner with an incredible set of clients and the exceptional talent within both Ogilvy and WPP to harness the network’s full power and collectively move us all forward into what’s next.”
A new chapter for Ogilvy ANZ
Muddle will officially begin her role in early 2026, succeeding Sally Kissane, who stepped down in July after three decades with Ogilvy.
Her appointment follows a string of major client and creative wins for Ogilvy ANZ, including its Network of the Year title at the 2025 APAC Effies. The agency also earned Gold in Youth Marketing for “A Masterclass in Government Sex Talks” for the Department of Health and Aged Care, and Silver in Engaged Community Services for “Flying High in a Frugal World” for KFC.
Beyond her agency work, Muddle sits on the boards of the Australian Council of Advertising (ACA), the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA), and Ridgeway, an Indigenous social change agency. She has been awarded Woman of the Year and Executive of the Year twice.