Burson-Marsteller European consumer marketing practice head Lynn
Petersen is leaving, only nine months after having taken the job.
Petersen was hired to reinvigorate B-M’s 100-strong European consumer
team, which operates across 14 offices and handles accounts including
McDonald’s, drinks giant UDV, Ford’s car parts division, Netscape and
Unilever, on which Petersen herself worked. Her final departure date has
yet to be decided.
B-M chief operating officer for Europe Jeff Hunt will take over
Petersen’s responsibilities for the medium-term.
Petersen said: ’My skill is in growing the business and that’s what I’ve
done. (European CEO) Ken Rietz and I agreed to disagree on how to take
the business forward. B-M and I have parted best of friends.’ She added
that she is now considering her career options.
Petersen joined B-M last November from Swedish office furniture
manufacturer Kinnarps, where she was UK sales and marketing director for
six years.
She was previously event marketing director for Europe and Asia at Kraft
General Foods and spent two years at B-M in the 1980s, when she rose to
associate director in the consumer marketing division.
P B-M UK marketing communications MD Jane Ferguson left the agency two
weeks ago to go freelance. She reported to UK marketing communications
head David Brain and Paul Gillions, who heads the agency’s Unilever
account on which Ferguson worked.
