Our Team
Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy Public Relations Australia
Kieran has 25 years’ experience in PR covering public relations strategy development and implementation, reputation and crisis management and corporate positioning for business to business and consumer focused companies both in the UK and Australia.Kieran was appointed CEO in 2011 and is responsible for managing the six specialist PR firms within Ogilvy PR Australia as well as marketing, business and leadership development.Kieran also manages a number of clients and as a highly sought after senior practitioner her teams have won more than a 20 international awards for client campaigns in the last two years.Prior to this role Kieran was Joint Managing Director of business to business and technology firm Howorth, part of Ogilvy PR Australia, for eight years where she was responsible for strategic level communication services as well as the development of new value-added services that enhanced Howorth’s clients’ reputations.Before returning to Australia eight years ago, Kieran was a board director and shareholder of one of Europe’s largest independent PR companies, Firefly Communications for more than 10 years.When she joined there were eight people and in 2002 when she left there were more than 140 consultants in London, Paris, Edinburgh and Munich. In 2001 it was Awarded PR Week Consultancy of the Year.She has a BA in Communications (PR/Journalism), Charles Sturt University (formerly Mitchell College), Australia.
Managing Director, Ogilvy PR Health
Leon has ten years’ experience implementing successful health communication campaigns for major pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as professional associations and health technology organisations. His experience extends to the most significant reimbursement campaigns over the last 10 years.Before forming Ogilvy PR Health, Leon was a Director at the public affairs agency, Parker & Partners, where he developed a strong understanding of the role and influence government has in healthcare.Leon has a strong understanding in health, as well as issues around the reimbursement processes that many campaigns often seek to influence.Importantly Leon’s insights into Government come from a background in politics when he worked as a policy adviser in the office of then Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge and as a health policy adviser with then Victorian Premier, the Hon Jeff Kennett.Leon is a Director with the Australian Institute of Policy & Science.
Director-Digital Strategy, Ogilvy Public Relations
Brian is an award-winning, founding member of Social@Ogilvy global team – the world’s largest network of social media marketing practitioners. Brian’s main blog is http://www.australiadigitalmap.com.Brian speaks regularly on the state of social media in Australia and Asia Pacific, and has appeared at AdTech, AdKnowledge, Frocomm, Web 3.0 Summit, the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA), Future of Influence, and others. In addition, Brian has conducted Webinars as part of an “Executive’s Guide to Social Media” partnership with the Wall Street Journal Asia which routinely receive more than 2,000 attendees each.Brian’s previous roles at Ogilvy PR give him an unusually strong perspective of the total digital landscape. As interactive marketing manager, Brian developed a deep expertise and passion in search marketing, interactive advertising, email marketing and digital PR programmes.Prior to joining Ogilvy PR, Brian was a legislative aide for U.S. Representative Jay W. Johnson where he advised on issues of technology, education and telecommunications.
Managing Director, Ogilvy Impact
Lorie is a senior communications executive with extensive communications experience across a range of sectors including telecommunications, cable TV, IT, FMCG, utilities and procurement.Her approach to delivering results is to partner closely with leadership teams to provide strategic counsel and to drive effective internal communications and change initiatives.Her deep understanding of the challenges leadership face in communicating and engaging with employees has enabled her to deliver communications that connect with stakeholders.Lorie is creative and innovative and has highly developed strategic vision and future-focus. An accomplished professional, she has designed and delivered communications for high-impact, large, complex change programmes internationally.
Managing Director, Parker & Partners
Mathew Jones has 14 years’ experience in media and politics. He worked for five years at the highest levels of state politics as a media advisor and chief of staff to a senior minister in portfolio areas such as transport and roads, infrastructure, and treasury and finance.He has extensive knowledge of working in and with government and the media, and has managed a number of successful campaigns, launches and policy initiatives, including State Budgets and major infrastructure statements.He also has considerable experience in the areas of privatisations, tax policy, state-federal relations, and energy and utilities.Prior to working in politics, Mathew worked as a journalist and public relations specialist in the community sector, providing him with substantial involvement in grass roots campaigns.Mathew’s experience across media, policy and politics allows him to carry forward clients’ objectives through both sound communications strategies and meaningful political engagement.
Managing Director, Ogilvy PR Melbourne
Alex has 12 years’ experience in below-the-line brand and reputation management for some of the world’s leading brands and corporations. Her diverse experience spans an array of sectors including consumer technology, FMCG, banking and financial services, personal care, automobile, government and aviation.Alex’s areas of specialty include: targeted strategy development, brand communications, influencer engagement, community relations campaign development, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder communications, sports marketing and sponsorship maximisation, product recall strategy and issues management.This is Alex’s second time working for Ogilvy PR. Her last position with the firm was as an Account Director at Pulse (part of Ogilvy PR Australia) where she led a number of highly successful and award winning campaigns including the launch of the Xbox game franchise ‘Halo 2′, which was recognised globally by both Ogilvy PR and Microsoft as best in class. Prior to this, Alex was General Manager of Edelman Worldwide Sydney where she was responsible for the direction and execution of client programs, strategy and business development.Prior to that, she spent five years with Weber Shandwick’s Sydney office – as their national head of client services and senior vice president APAC of their consumer marketing division. During her tenure, Weber Shandwick Australia was the most awarded consumer marketing team in market – winning an unprecedented number of awards at an international and local level.
Ogilvy Public Relations
Sam North, former Managing Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald, joined Ogilvy PR in the newly-created role of Media Director at the start of 2009. Sam brought more than 30 years of experience across the fields of media and management to the role.As Media Director, Sam provides senior counsel on media engagement, crisis and issues management.Since joining Ogilvy PR he has provided advice to a number of major companies, including Ford Australia, Microsoft, Toshiba, Unilever and Yum Foods Australia.Sam leads the Ogilvy media training unit, with a large number of training options being tailored to suit the particular needs of the client. Sam has prepared clients to handle any number of potentially damaging, or potentially advantageous, circumstances – from coaching for an appearance before a Senate committee, to getting people ready to make the most of an interview with a journalist from the local newspaper or a nationally-televised news program.He has trained executives from many of Australia’s top-100 companies – from the most senior CEO through to senior management corporate affairs personnel and entry-level media officers.Sam’s journalistic career included engaging, either as a writer, interviewer or manager, with every Prime Minister from Gough Whitlam to the present. Prior to his role as Managing Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald, he worked in a number of senior positions at Fairfax including serving as Chief of Staff during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He also was the Fairfax representative on the Australian Press Council for a number of years. Prior to joining Fairfax, he worked as an on-camera reporter for television news.
Finance and Operations Director, Ogilvy Public Relations
Paul Rushton joined Ogilvy Public Relations Australia in 2006 after re-locating from the UK.His current role as Finance Director involves being each Managing Director’s business partner, offering financial counsel and support, whilst ensuring audit compliance. Paul’s main focus is ensuring that high standards of service and work are delivered to the businesses.Prior to his move to Sydney, Paul was the Financial Controller of Aquascutum – a London luxury fashion brand, where his greatest achievement was re-building and then leading the finance department into a team which interacted well with the business, and performed to their best.Paul holds a honours degree in Law from the University of Wales and was made a Fellow of the Certified Chartered Accountants in 2005.
Managing Director, OgilvyEarth
Andrew has over a decade of experience solving key strategic issues in both the public and private sectors, with a particular interest in sustainability and climate change.Prior to this, he spent eight years with the Australian Government, most recently as Director of International Forest Carbon at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE), where he jointly managed a $270 million international forestry initiative.At DCCEE, Andrew was a lead negotiator for Australia in UN negotiations and supported the development of Australia’s international climate change policy.He was elected co-chair of the international REDD+ Partnership, a grouping of around 80 countries driving progress on deforestation.He worked with key stakeholders from governments, civil society and the private sector to build goodwill and trust in the Partnership.Prior to this he was a diplomat at the Australian Embassy, Tehran, where he was involved in managing a number of crises.He began his career as a business strategy consultant at OC&C Strategy Consultants in London, working with blue-chip companies on M&A deals and strategy planning. He has a first class degree in Geography from Oxford University and a Masters of International law from the Australian National University.
Group Managing Director, Howorth
Graham joined Howorth in 2000 with more than ten years’ management and communications experience gained in the UK.At Howorth, Graham has directed communications programs covering strategy development and implementation for major technology clients including AMD, BMC Software, Borland Software, Citrix Online, D-Link, EMC, Genesys Telecommunications, HDS, Intel, Lexmark, Manugistics, Microsoft, NCR, Network Appliance, RSA Security, Senatas, Teradata and VERITAS Software.He also established and managed a pan-Asian network for both Borland and Lexmark.As managing director, in addition to his client and business development responsibilities, Graham looks after finance operations.Graham has a first-class Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Public Relations from Bournemouth University in England.
Kaz Scott
Strategy & Planning Director
Kaz joined Ogilvy PR as its first Strategy and Planning Director in 2011. Her role spans all Ogilvy PR companies and focuses on campaign development for new and existing clients, supporting the increasing demand for multidisciplinary programs which centre on audience engagement and insight, rather than channel delivery. A true generalist, Kaz has more than 12 years’ experience in communication planning, strategy development, issues management, campaigning and behaviour change. She has worked for some of the world’s most famous international and local brands having held senior positions in leading communication agencies in London, Beijing, Dubai and New Zealand. Before joining Ogilvy Kaz spent five years with London’s Fishburn Hedges. In her final two years she was partially seconded to London 2012 to develop and lead a fully integrated Marcomms strategy to change the way Londoners travel during the Games. At Ogilvy Kaz provides strategy and planning support to clients including Canon, Ford Australia, Microsoft and Carnival Cruises. Kaz has a particular interest in behaviour change and social marketing having worked with campaigns in the UK spanning drink, drugs, obesity, literacy, smoking and climate change. She has a Bachelor of Communications (PR/Multimedia) from Auckland University of Technology.
Group Managing Director, Corporate
David Bell joins Ogilvy PR from a long and diverse background in corporate life and consulting; his most recent role being the General Manager for Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Westpac. His other corporate roles have included being General Manager Communications & Investor Relations at NRMA/IAG and as Group Manager for Corporate Affairs at Telstra. He was CEO of the Australian Bankers’ Association for almost a decade from 2001 to 2010. His consulting background includes time as the Managing Director for Gavin Anderson and Kortlang, and time as a business strategy consultant with Anderson Consulting. Previously he was Chief of Staff to the NSW Agriculture Minister, Ian Armstrong, during the Greiner Government. He started his work life as a paratroop and infantry Officer in the Australian Army. David is a Director of the Banking and Finance Oath Ltd and a Member of the Advisory Council of the St James Ethics Centre. He has previously been a Director of Netball Australia, Chairman of the International Banking Federation and a Director of the Finance Industry Council of Australia. David has an MBA, Bachelor of Economics, his first degree was a BA, and he is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. He is currently doing post graduate research in military history with the aim of completing a Doctorate at the University of NSW.
Yianni Konstantopoulos
Group Managing Director, Social@Ogilvy
Yianni joins the Social@Ogilvy team from Washington DC and brings with him over a decade of demonstrating impact in business development, digital strategy execution, team leadership, and strategic marketing experience. In his most recent role, he served as head of Strategy and Business Development at Blue State Digital, the world-renown digital strategy and engagement firm.
While at Blue State Digital, Yianni helped the firm continue a period of rapid and sustained growth in emerging and innovative industries, and was able to add several leading organisation’s to the firm’s roster.
Immediately prior to Blue State, Yianni spent two years with Avendi Meda, a boutique design agency where he managed the organization’s strategic growth and marketing efforts leading to a doubling of the firm’s active client roster and annual revenues. Before that, he served in senior capacities at the Corporate Executive Board and the World Bank. Yianni is a graduate of the George Washington University. Yianni joins the team in Australia in early July.