Page 42 - AdNews May-June 2020

Nick Keenan walks into chaos
WORDS BY
JENNI GILBERT
Profile
The new local chief executive of Starcom Australia talks about the skills needed in
a time of uncertainty.
Nick Keenan became CEO of Starcom Australia on Monday, March 16, the week the COVID-19 crisis started to bite.
Working from home became standard across the industry. At the same time clients either put campaigns on hold or ordered an urgent remake of those in play.
Within another week, state-by- state lockdowns began on busi- nesses, institutions and personal movements to enforce greater governance of self-isolation and social distancing.
In this landscape, Keenan forged a leadership style that focuses on the “human element, first and foremost”.
This is not the first time Keenan has found himself in a seemingly no-win position.
In 2018, as newly appointed CEO of quick-service restaurant chain Red Rooster, he was “thrown into” a parliamentary inquiry into franchising
“To be clear – nothing compares to this current crisis,” says Keenan says. “It is a global one and people’s lives are in danger.
“In no way do I want to draw parallels with this event versus another as it is absolutely unique and far reaching into every aspect of society.
“However, I have had experience in managing a crisis situation and leading staff through a very tough period. At Starcom, I have been drawing on my learnings from the experience at Red Rooster.
“In 2018, we had more than 40 media/news outlets publishing and broadcasting Red Rooster’s ‘demise’ into bankruptcy due to a couple of rogue franchisees who put in a submission that was incredibly damaging.