Enero Group, a global marketing and technology agency network, has appointed Ian Ball to the newly created role of chief operating officer (COO), effective 17th February, 2025.
Ball brings over 40 years of international experience across consulting, technology, professional services, and private equity. He has held senior leadership positions in major organisations, including EY Oceania, where he served as deputy CEO and head of markets, overseeing a $1.4 billion business. His role at EY encompassed responsibilities in revenue generation, client management, business development, marketing, communications, and strategic acquisitions.
In recent years, Ball served as chief operating officer and head of strategy and M&A at TEG and as an operating partner at Silver Lake. Prior to that, he was the CEO and managing director of ASX-listed global professional services company, Cardno. His extensive career also spans leadership roles in various international markets, including Asia, the UK, Europe, Australia, and the U.S., making him a strong fit to guide Enero Group through its next phase of growth.
“I am excited to be joining Australia’s only listed marketing and communications business to lead the company into its next growth phase,” said Ball. “The quality of the individual business units, the talented staff, the global reach, and exposure to growth markets provide a very strong platform for value creation. I look forward to working with the Board and Leadership Team, as well as meeting our people to unlock this potential.”
In his new role, Ball will report directly to Enero Group chair Ian Rowden and replace outgoing CEO Brent Scrimshaw. He will oversee both operational and financial leadership across the business, as well as lead the strategic review of OBMedia. CEOs of Enero’s operating companies, including Heather Kernahan, Steve McArdle, Wai Kwok, and Raja Gupta, along with the Group’s functional heads, will now report to Ball.
Ian Rowden, chair of Enero Group, commented: “Ian is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record in leading and growing substantial businesses. His deep understanding of the marketing and technology landscape, coupled with his operational expertise, makes him ideally suited to lead Enero’s next phase of growth and innovation.”
“I am particularly pleased that we’ve attracted someone with Ian’s qualifications to help accelerate our efforts to harness AI for our agencies and clients,” added Rowden.
This announcement comes shortly after Enero’s launch of its refreshed brand positioning, Free Thinkers United, which reflects the Group’s commitment to independent and innovative thinking. The new positioning emphasizes Enero’s ability to combine strategic precision with creativity to solve key challenges for high-growth clients across the globe.