Manning Selvage and Lee is to lose Janet Edmond, one of the key people
behind its success in the healthcare sector.
Edmond, who joined MS&L in 1990 from The Rowland Company as director of
healthcare and became deputy managing director in 1991, is working out
her notice and will leave at the end of the year.
She says the decision to quit was prompted by her desire to do ‘some new
things that maybe don’t fit into the framework of MS&L’.
She insisted that the parting is ‘definitely not acrimonious’ and may
still result in Edmond working on a part-time basis for the company.
‘I’m in discussions with Kirk Stewart [the worldwide chairman and chief
executive of MS&L],’ she said. ‘There are some proposals on the table
which would give me the freedom to do other things.’
Commenting on the timing of her departure, Edmond said it was ‘best to
leave on a high’. During her six years at MS&L the company has become
one of the top 10 earners in the field of healthcare PR. Its client list
now includes Zeneca, 3M Pharmaceuticals and The British Heart
Foundation.
‘I’m very proud of the fact that I made an enormous contribution to the
success of the European network and the establishment of international
programmes,’ said Edmond.
Asked if she has plans to set up in competition with MS&L, Edmond
stated: ‘There is nothing planned or confirmed at the moment.’
Jackie Elliot, managing director of MS&L, said there would be no direct
replacement for Edmond. ‘I need to replace aspects of the work that
she’s been doing but I am not actively looking for a new deputy md.
Janet fulfilled that role uniquely.’
Also stressing the amicable terms on which Edmond is leaving, Elliot
continued: ‘Janet’s made a really remarkable contribution to our growth.
Making a straight-forward replacement would be impossible. I may ask
senior people here to broaden their portfolios.’
Despite the top-level departure, Elliot is not expecting any client
defections.
