After a stellar 20-year career in advertising,
Todd Sampson, non-executive chairman of Leo Burnett Australia, has quit
the business.
Sampson
stepped down as CEO in August 2015, replaced by Peter Bosilkovski in Sydney and Melinda Geertz in Melbourne.
To
the public, Sampson is best known for hosting ABC's Redesign My Brain,
Network Ten's Body Hack and of course as co-star of ABC's The Gruen
Transfer.
Says Sampson: "After nearly 10 years and over eight of
them as a CEO, it's time for me to finally say goodbye to Leo Burnett. I
have always believed your job as a leader is not complete until your
succession is in place and thriving and that is the reason I stayed on
over the last year as a non-executive Chair. I can confidently now say -
my job is done.
"Peter Bosilkovski in Sydney and Melinda Geertz
(below) in Melbourne are doing outstanding jobs and Leo Burnett, a
company I will always love, has gotten stronger and stronger.
"Over 20 years ago, I was studying an MBA and my marketing lecturer fell
down and broke her back. As a result she got a series of guest
lecturers to substitute and one of those was a creative director from an
advertising agency. He spoke about ideas, imagination and how an
individual's mind could change almost anything. That lecture was the
start of a 20 year advertising journey that would twist and turn around
the globe and eventually lead me here. I'm very thankful for everything
this industry has given me. I've worked with some of the most vibrant,
diverse and clever minds on three continents and I'm proud to have been a
part of it."
Says Bosilkovski (above right): "Todd may be leaving the industry
in a formal capacity, but the impact, influence and invaluable
contribution he has had on Leo Burnett and the advertising industry as a
whole will always be remembered. During his time as CEO, we won Agency
of the Year 12 times on a local, regional and global level and were in
the world's Top 10 Creative agencies three times.
"It's been an
honour to have worked alongside such a rare talent, and I thank Todd for
all he has achieved for Leo Burnett and wish him all the best for the
future."