Paul Everingham resigns as CEO of Marketforce; senior Clemenger BBDO Melbourne executive Jim Gall appointed Chairman and acting CEO

Paul Everingham (far left) has resigned as CEO of Marketforce after eight months in the role, and been replaced by senior Clemenger Executive, Jim Gall (left), as Chairman and Acting CEO.

In a statement from Clemenger Group, Gall is described as an experienced leader and entrepreneur having founded the successful RedHanded Agency in Melbourne, now part of the Clemenger Group. He is well versed in running integrated agencies in specialised markets and has done extensive consulting to Marketforce over the last six months.

Clemenger Group Chairman, Robert Morgan said: “I would like to thank Paul Everingham and wish him well for the future. We are committed to ensuring the ongoing success of our business in Perth and giving it the full resources of the Clemenger Group in the new era of data-led, new-age digital communications. Marketforce will become much closer to the Clemenger BBDO Network in the future. At the same time as continuing its proud WA heritage.”

Everingham succeeded John Driscoll as CEO in June last year. His appointment was something of a surprise since he did not come from an advertising background, having been the CEO of public affairs and corporate strategy firm GRA Everingham, which the Clemenger Group had bought, until taking a sabbatical at the end of 2016.

At the time, Morgan described him as “…an extraordinarily creative, entrepreneurial and energetic individual, with highly developed business networks around Australia”, however the abrupt nature of Everingham’s departure points to a breakdown in the relationship.

As recently as last week, he was quoted in a Marketforce release about the agency’s new strategy and campaign for West Coast Fever, with no hint that an exit was imminent.

Campaign Brief contacted Everingham but he declined to comment.