CEO Croll to Leave Isentia

John Croll has announced he will resign as MD and CEO of Australian media monitoring firm Isentia, in six months' time, after eighteen years leading the company and its predecessor Media Monitors. The Board will start the search for a replacement immediately.

Croll led the company, as Media Monitors, through its sale in 2010 to Quadrant Private Equity, and its subsequent rebrand as Sentia Media and then iSentia / Isentia. Under his leadership the firm spread from an Australian base across Asia pacific with buys in China and SE Asia. It continued with buys in Australia and more in Asia, meanwhile announcing an IPO in 2014.

The company has endured a difficult year after its content generation, marketing and measurement subsidiary King Content, acquired in 2015 for around $48m, was closed down. Four months ago Croll informed shareholders that Isentia was predicting a profit drop of up to 23% for the financial year, leading to company shares falling by 45%. Australian publication mumbrella.com.au points out that Croll is the last remaining member of the management team involved in the ill-fated acquisition, with Chairman Doug Flynn having retired from the board late last year and CFO Nimesh Shah last March.

Croll said in a statement to the ASX, 'After almost 20 years as CEO, I believe it is time for a change. I have been incredibly privileged to lead the talented and dedicated team at Isentia'. Chairman Doug Snedden said the Board 'recognises the significant contribution John has made to establishing Isentia as the market leader in media intelligence in the Asia Pacific region', and added: 'John will continue to lead the company with the support and assistance of the Board until a successor is appointed. We appreciate John's ongoing commitment to Isentia as the notice period will ensure a smooth transition to a new CEO'.

Web site: www.isentia.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.