Troubled Goldsack fully in Young & Rubicam fold

By DITA DE BONI

Goldsack Harris, the agency that co-opted John Hopoate's moment of shame to publicise the risks of prostate cancer, has changed its name.

This week the agency became young&rubicam.thinking Wellington, fully aligning itself with Auckland's Young & Rubicam, the agency that it merged with in 1999.

Ownership of the agency - 45 per cent by Y&R New York and 55 per cent by local shareholders - does not change.

Present general manager Dennis Carroll, creative director Chrissie Lahood, art director Graeme Harris and media director Julie Powell will run the office, which will also be co-managed by Y&R New Zealand managing director Peter Scutts.

Managing director Ross Goldsack is to take a six-month sabbatical which is understood to be related to personal circumstances.

The latest news comes at the end of a difficult period for Goldsack. After losing its last Government account - Statistics New Zealand - to rival Clemenger last year, the agency proceeded to lose Dulux and Mitsubishi and, the final straw, the $10 million National Bank account, also to Clemenger.

When the National Bank account was lost, Mr Goldsack had signalled redundancies, but had not indicated he might be one of those stepping aside.

Mr Scutts said the United States-based head office of Y&R had wanted to change the Goldsack Harris name at the time the partnership was formed in 1999.

"We wanted to hold off until the time was right. The time is now right."

The combined billings of the Young & Rubicam Goldsack Harris partnership were last pegged at over $77 million. Pacific Retail Group and Woolworths are two of the agencies' largest clients.