Ogilvy PR Worldwide is to find itself yet again without a European
president, following the revelation that Paul Philpotts is leaving the
company.
Philpotts, who joined Ogilvy as its first European president in March
1998, is leaving after less than two years to run the corporate
communications division of financial PR agency Square Mile.
Before Philpotts joined, Ogilvy had been without a European president or
a UK chief executive for some time. UK chief executive Fiona Driscoll
left in January 1997 after two years in the job, when the new role of
European president was created.
During his time at Ogilvy, Philpotts brought in Donna Zurcher, formerly
at Good Relations, to head the agency’s UK operation in February
1999.
Prior to joining Ogilvy, Philpotts held the post of UK managing director
of Burson-Marsteller.
Square Mile’s corporate division has been rebranded as MC2, which stands
for the management of communications and consulting. It will offer a
broad range of corporate communications support, putting particular
emphasis on the integration of marketing disciplines. Square Mile
chairman Tim Jackaman said the division would be built on the existing
ten-strong corporate team at the agency and would aim to bring in pounds
1 million in fees during its first year.
’We are finding that clients are increasingly after a fuller service
than financial PR in narrow terms. We recognise the corporate team now
needs an identity to develop its own business,’ he said.
Philpotts said: ’We will also be helping companies to integrate
advertising, PR and design, and helping them to organise and structure
communications whether it is handled internally or by external
agencies.’
Philpotts said he thought there was a need for the new division because
of the volatility in the market stemmimg from activity around dot.com
stocks.
Philpotts expects to work for existing Square Mile clients, as well as
bringing in fresh clients to the agency.
Meanwhile, Square Mile has also recruited Mike Wort to head its
healthcare and biotech team.
Wort joins from Mexal Communications, a specialist healthcare
consultancy he set up in 1997.
