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Vince Viola to return to Australia after 14 years running Cathay Pacific account for McCann

Vince ViolaVince Viola, managing director of McCann’s Cathay Pacific Central Team, is to return to his native Australia after 14 years in Hong Kong.

The Australian is to take up a post in McCann’s Melbourne office as chief growth officer from February next year.

A replacement MD of the McCann Central Team will be announced shortly, the agency has said.

Viola said: “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.”

“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.”

“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,” he said.

News of Viola’s departure comes after the appointments of creative and digital executives Martin Lever, Brandon Cheung and Christopher Howard to bolster the Central Team, however ECD Thierry Halbroth has moved to McCann’s Thai office, it was announced in June.

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