Ogilvy Melbourne appoints ex-M&C Saatchi MP Jo Rozario to group managing director role

Australia: Ogilvy has appointed industry leader Jo Rozario to its senior ranks as group managing director, Ogilvy Melbourne, in a move designed to continue its pattern of growth and collaboration.

A well-known and highly respected operator with more than 30-years’ experience, Rozario was most recently at M&C Saatchi, where she was managing partner. Other roles held during her seven-year tenure at the agency include managing director and regional director.

Her broad and impressive career includes a long stretch client-side, spending more than six years at NAB where she headed marketing communications and was a key architect of the brand relaunch from National Bank to NAB. She has also worked at Adcorp Australia, Armstrongs, and Mattingly Melbourne’s Gasworks Agency.

Rozario takes the reins as Group MD following Sean Taylor’s move to Geometry Australia as head of country. Geometry Australia recently merged with OgilvyAction Australia to create one of the country’s largest and most innovative shopper marketing agencies.

Rozario’s remit includes working with the heads of business units across the group to maximise collaboration and foster talent.  She will also sit on the national leadership team to further drive growth and ensure Ogilvy’s capabilities continue to be market-leading and client-responsive.

Says David Fox, CEO, Ogilvy Australia: “Jo has vast experience working in a cross-functional role incorporating digital, creative, strategy and other key capabilities, particularly during her time on the Commonwealth Bank account. Ogilvy’s model is all about capitalising on this kind of collaboration for the benefit of the client so we are excited to have someone of her calibre and focus lead our Melbourne team.

“She also brings strong client-side insight, which will be vital to ensure that our market offering continues to be focussed on results and cutting edge creativity. This teamed with her strong business acumen made her the perfect fit for the group.”

Rozario said it was an “absolute privilege” to be asked to join Ogilvy.

Continues Rozario: “I knew from the moment I met Foxy and some of the leadership team, that we shared the same non-negotiable philosophy – we are in this business first and foremost to help build our client’s businesses. It’s about innovative creativity that gets results. With a history of great work, some of the best talent in the industry and a focus on providing all of the specialist skills clients need to solve their business problems today, I had no doubt that this was an agency I wanted to be a part of.”