Ogilvy Network is a business that helps its clients transform and adapt so that they may succeed in the modern era. The Ogilvy Mission is to inspire brands and people to impact the world. For over 50 years, Ogilvy operated in Australia as an ‘advertising agency’. Their work shaped culture changed customer behaviour, grew their client’s business, and created some of Australia’s most loved brands. But as the world has evolved, so has Ogilvy to better serve their clients’ needs. 

Today, the Ogilvy Network is a single, high-performance, fully integrated company that delivers growth from transforming five individual business units across five different Australian states and New Zealand into one single company. The Network comprises Advertising, Brand & Content, Consulting, Experience, Health, and Public Relations. While much has changed, one thing has always remained the same: their fundamental belief in the power of creativity to transform business. The Ogilvy Network is a company that can genuinely deliver the very best cross-functional capabilities to help its clients transform and adapt so that they may succeed in the modern era. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Auckland, the Network brings together the capabilities of over 550 specialists to deliver solutions to the most challenging business problems.  

More broadly, Ogilvy Network is part of the Ogilvy Global network to work fluidly with shared clients across 131 offices in 93 countries. Ogilvy Network is also part of the WPP Network – one of the largest communications networks in the world. 

While Ogilvy Network’s business has been successful domestically, it has been making waves on the world stage in recent years.

In 2023, the CEO of Ogilvy Network ANZ, Sally Kissane, continued their mission to unlock new growth chapters for the business. Sally Kissane’s objective was to deliver growth by, transforming five business units across Australia and New Zealand into one high-performance, fully integrated company.

Firstly, Ogilvy achieves this by innovating and operating at the intersection of people and shared capabilities. At the heart of what they do, their model is ”Borderless Creativity” because the client’s business problems are differently shaped, and solutions must be, too. The business is structured so that Talent can successfully collaborate in a borderless fashion across their offices, providing agnostic and effective solutions for clients, all while creating greater opportunities for the growth of individuals. This included the full implementation of Bower House Digital to bolster and re-position the Experience offering and the integration of another WPP business, Verticurl, to support onboarding a significant new client relationship in 2023.   

Secondly, a firm focus is centred on People and DE&I to make Ogilvy the best workplace. Their entire business strategy is built upon the belief that great culture drives great performance. They have worked hard to create a culture that cultivates, attracts, trains, recognises, and retains the best Talent. To promote employees’ skills, capabilities and experience, Ogilvy has continued to build upon the successful launch of “University of Creativity” as a place to grow, which provides access to academy classroom-based internal training, as well as providing access to specialist bespoke courses designed for future leaders to gain knowledge, skills and tools needed to be a rounded leader in a transforming world.   

Finally, Ogilvy continued to build upon its employer purpose and industry reputation to drive meaningful connections. As a result, Ogilvy made significant female leadership hires, including an Executive Creative Director in Melbourne, a Head of Strategy, a Head of Corporate, and a Managing Partner in Sydney, plus female Talent promoted into an Executive Creative Director role in Sydney.  

Ogilvy aims to empower its employees with a sense of accomplishment and achievement from their work. To promote open, honest dialogue about an individual’s performance and contribution to the business, Ogilvy gives all employees regular performance feedback through regular and ongoing Career Conversations.

Communication within the agency remains vital, and regular anonymous engagement surveys keep Ogilvy accountable while giving everyone a voice and platform to be heard. Staff are encouraged to give confidential feedback on various issues, including culture, values, and objectives. The wider management team reviews the results and then meets bi-annually to discuss and determine an action plan to report back to employees. 

The Ogilvy Network believes there’s strength and certainty in giving people a clear framework to both listen and communicate within, thus ensuring the rhythm of Ogilvy never misses a beat. Weekly and fortnightly company meetings and monthly all-network meetings to showcase and celebrate work serve as an info-sharing session and an opportunity to recognise teams and individuals who go above and beyond. As a result, Ogilvy’s survey and feedback regarding communication, leadership, and culture are positive, and over 90% of our respondents said they would recommend Ogilvy Australia as a place to work. 

For information about Ogilvy Australia, visit ogilvy.com.au