Ogilvy names Kirsty Muddle CEO for Australia and New Zealand

Ogilvy has appointed Kirsty Muddle as CEO of Ogilvy Network ANZ. A respected creative industry leader, Muddle will oversee the agency’s operations across Australia and New Zealand, spanning advertising, PR, social and influencer marketing, customer engagement, consulting, and health communications.

Muddle brings a mix of creative vision and technical expertise, combining deep knowledge of media, data, and technology with a passion for creativity that drives business growth. Her leadership will build on Ogilvy’s momentum across the region as it continues to expand its integrated capabilities.

Muddle joins Ogilvy from Dentsu, where she serves as CEO of Practices & Products for Australia and New Zealand, leading practices across creative, PR, government, customer experience, Salesforce, data and technology, commerce, and B2B marketing. Her career spans more than 25 years, including senior roles at cummins&partners and Mindshare in both Australia and the UK.

Laurent Ezekiel, global CEO, Ogilvy Group: “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. Her ability to unite diverse capabilities—from social and influencer to technology and data—makes her an exceptional leader for Ogilvy in this key market.”

Rose Herceg, president for Australia and New Zealand, WPP: “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. In Kirsty, we found that rare blend; a genuine love for creativity coupled with experience harnessing the disciplines that creativity needs to thrive. She was truly a standout choice.”

Muddle: “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. Most importantly, they never forgot why this business was born—the power of creativity to drive growth. That enduring belief made Ogilvy feel like home.”

Before joining Dentsu, Muddle co-founded cummins&partners, where she helped build the agency’s creative reputation over an 11-year period. Earlier, she spent nine years at Mindshare in the UK and Australia, strengthening her expertise in media and data-driven marketing. She has twice been recognised as Woman of the Year and Executive of the Year, and serves on the boards of the Australian Council of Advertising, the Australian Association of National Advertisers, and Ridgeway, an Indigenous social change agency.

Muddle will begin her role at Ogilvy in early 2026, succeeding Sally Kissane, who stepped down in July after nearly 30 years with the agency. Her appointment follows a period of success for Ogilvy ANZ, which recently won business from Tourism New Zealand and Specsavers, and earned Network of the Year at the 2025 APAC Effie Awards.

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