Leadership Transition at JCDecaux: CEO Steve O’Connor to Step Down After Two Decades

After two decades with JCDecaux Australia and New Zealand, Steve O’Connor will be stepping down as CEO at the end of 2024. The company announced that Chief Commercial Officer Max Eburne and Chief Financial Officer David Watkins will take over as co-CEOs, effective January 1, 2025.

Jean-François Decaux, Co-Chief Executive Officer of JCDecaux, acknowledged the significant impact of O’Connor’s leadership over the years, particularly his role in the integration of APN Outdoor into the business. He emphasized that O’Connor’s contributions had positioned the company for a successful future.

Reflecting on his tenure, O’Connor expressed pride in the growth of JCDecaux in the region and gratitude for the support he received throughout his time with the company. He also stated that Eburne and Watkins were well-prepared to lead JCDecaux forward, and shared his excitement about focusing on personal pursuits, such as spending more time on his cattle farm and exploring future endeavors.

Decaux further highlighted the suitability of Eburne and Watkins as O’Connor’s successors, citing their combined experience and deep understanding of the business. He noted that the co-CEO model had been successfully implemented in other JCDecaux subsidiaries, setting the stage for continued growth and success.

Eburne expressed his appreciation for O’Connor’s leadership during their 16 years of collaboration and shared his enthusiasm for taking on the role alongside Watkins. He remarked that their complementary skills and shared commitment to innovation would help steer JCDecaux toward future success, particularly in delivering results for clients in the evolving Out-of-Home advertising industry.

Watkins echoed Eburne’s sentiments, saying he was excited about the opportunity to lead the company and build on the strong foundation left by O’Connor. He pointed to the industry’s strong fundamentals and expressed confidence that JCDecaux would continue to innovate and seize future opportunities. Watkins looked ahead to 2025 and beyond, emphasizing the company’s strategy and the promising potential for growth.

O’Connor will remain with the company through the end of 2024 to support the leadership transition.

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