MELBOURNE – October 25, 2013 – After 14 years as managing director of the McCann Cathay Pacific Central Team in Hong Kong, Vince Viola is returning to McCann Australia as chief growth officer.
Viola will be based out of the agency’s Melbourne office. He will remain in Hong Kong until the end of the year, and will assume his position with McCann Australia in February 2014.
Viola’s successor is slated to be announced soon, with Cathay Pacific executives working closely with the agency to help identify the right leadership for the account.
"This move is a bitter sweet moment in my life. I’ve had some amazing times in Hong Kong, made some life long relationships both personally and professionally and ridden the storm through some real lows and real highs while living in this great city [Hong Kong] over the last 14 years," Viola shared.
"While it will feel strange leaving this very special client partnership with Cathay Pacific and my team within McCann after so many years, the time has come for me to move on to my next chapter. I have many things I want to focus on from a personal perspective with my family, in particular as my sons become teenagers. Professionally, I am excited about returning to McCann Australia, particularly as the Melbourne office happens to be one of the most creative and effective agencies on the planet right at this moment. Melbourne is my home and it is the right time for me to be heading back," he continued.
Viola said, "I’m proud to be leaving the relationship with this great client in as best a shape as I could possibly wish for. The relationship and the commitment on the Cathay Pacific business runs deep, not only with myself but all within the McCann family. It really is a once in a lifetime unique career opportunity to work with this great brand and the team at Cathay Pacific."
According to McCann, "there has been significant investment to ensure the best in class creative and digital talent is in place with the recent appointments of Martin Lever, Brandon Cheung and Christopher Howard."
