Y&R boss Jon Ramage joins ad agency exodus

Another advertising giant has quit in less than a week.

Y&R chief executive Jon Ramage has resigned after seven years to “take a break and recharge his batteries”.

His successor is Y&R executive creative director Josh Moore, who has been at the agency for less than a year.

The move follows last week’s departure of Droga5 Auckland co-founder Andrew “Rocky” Stone, who quit to go fishing and spend more time with the family.

In a statement issued last night, Y&R non-executive chairman Ross Goldsack paid tribute to Mr Ramage, saying he was “leaving Y&R for a well-deserved break and to take time out from the advertising industry”.

It has been “no secret the advertising industry has been under sustained pressure during the global financial crisis, and Y&R has not been immune”, he said.

“Jon has borne much of that pressure and has decided he’d like to take a break and recharge his batteries.” 

Mr Ramage has an advertising career dating back more than 20 years.

Previous roles include being general manager of ColensoBBDO from 1997 to 2006.

He was also a marketing communications manager at Telecom New Zealand from 1990-92, according to his Linked-In profile.

His advertising agency career began with Ogilvy and Mather, where he spent five years before joining ColensoBBDO.

Mr Ramage has worked with major clients throughout his career, with award successes including Y&R being named Fairfax AdMedia Agency of the Year in 2008.

“Jon is a terrific person, smart, articulate and incredibly personable. Not only has he been a great colleague but he is also a mate as well,” Mr Goldsack said.

Mr Ramage has agreed to help Mr Goldsack and Mr Moore with the transition over the next few months.

“We’re in good health. The agency teams are flat out and our clients' business is our key consideration right now. I am also grateful for the support of our Australian Y&R team, which has the resources and commitment to back the business as we move ahead.

“We are very much focused on the welfare of our people and, to that end, no further staff changes are mooted,” Mr Goldsack said.

Wellington-born, Mr Moore joined Y&R in last September after spending four years in Sydney as executive creative director/founder of agency UsSydney.

He is a former creative director of Lowe Worldwide Auckland and former art director of Publicis Mojo Auckland and GeneratorBates.

The award-winning Mr Moore has also worked with major clients.

“I have a simple method for agency and client success. Create an agency/client culture that breeds motivated problem solvers,” he sayson his Linked-In profile.

Mr Ramage and Mr Moore were both unavailable for comment.