What you need to know:

• Rose Herceg is understood to be stepping into the newly created Country Manager role for WPP AUNZ, at least on an interim basis.
• The move follows the delisting of the Australian business and the exit of CEO Jens Monsees.
• The business is still seeking a CEO for GroupM.

Strategic shift

WPP AUNZ is gearing up to make its first executive appointment as part of its new local structure following the departure of CEO Jens Monsees, with Chief Strategy Officer Rose Herceg expected to take over the role of Country Manager.

Last week, the business became fully owned by WPP global, delisting from the ASX following the completion of the international takeover which brought an end to its venture with STW.

Insiders confirmed Herceg will step into the role on an interim basis but added that it was "very likely" she will eventually be named as the permanent Country Manager for the region. 

However, the individual hired for the open GroupM CEO role may ultimately assume greater authority.

In most of its other markets, WPP's Country Manager role acts as a "figurehead", mainly reporting back to the global executive team.

Those close to the business also confirmed that the Country Manager will eventually spearhead a group of agency executives from WPP's key brands, such as Ogilvy, Wunderman Thompson, AKQA and VMLY&R, with the executive leadership team set to dissolve.

WPP AUNZ declined to comment on the appointment, while a member of the global communications team denied that Herceg had taken over the role, stating "no appointment has been made".

Herceg, a strategy specialist, will now need to address some strategic differences of opinion following Monsees' exit.

She joined STW in 2008 after selling her Pophouse agency to the firm two years earlier.