MediaCom Australian CEO Steps Down

Mark Pejic, the CEO of Australia's second largest media agency MediaCom has left after four years leading the WPP firm, which was recently embroiled in a controversy over faked campaign reports for three major clients. The departure adds to a number of key roles already vacant at the company.

According to Australian media site www.mumbrella.com.au , Asia Pacific CEO Mark Heap will stand in until a successor is appointed. MediaCom already has vacancies for a Finance Director, Sydney MD, General Manager and Head of Insight; while parent company GroupM has lost its CEO John Steedman. The two firms have stressed that none of the recent departures relate to the misreporting scandal, in which the personnel concerned were not implicated. A dozen executives left the agency last year when an audit by consulting firm EY began, with at least one being fired and the rest resigning.

In a statement, MediaCom said Pejic (pictured) had resigned 'to pursue other interests', and that an announcement on his successor as CEO would be made 'within the coming weeks'.

Pejic was MD of Zenith Media when it was merged with MediaCom in 2004, and has spent the last seven years as either COO or CEO. Heap said of his predecessor: 'Mark has been a committed and loyal employee and his passion, energy and talent will certainly be missed. He has played a central role in the success of MediaCom in the Australian market, and we are grateful for his contribution'.

Web site: www.mediacom.com .