GCI Group has promoted Adrian Wheeler from managing director to the
newly created job of UK chief executive in the wake of its pounds 5
million acquisition of Focus Communications in September.
In Wheeler’s place, three of the current five directors reporting to him
have been made managing directors.
Nicholas Walters and Sue Ryan become joint managing directors of GCI
London, the original firm. The two used to share responsibility for the
corporate division. Walters, formerly deputy MD, will look after client
services and systems. Ryan, who set up GCI’s training programme
worldwide, will be responsible for human resources and training.
David Knowles, director of business-to-business PR, and Fiona Rollo,
director of consumer PR, will report to Ryan and Walters.
Wheeler has also created a separate healthcare division within GCI
London.
Catherine Warne will be its managing director, reporting directly to
Wheeler.
GCI group pulled in pounds 7 million in UK fee revenue last year, which
is matched only by its New York office. The group has 43 wholly-owned
firms worldwide and 15 affiliates. Wheeler’s brief is to create a more
cohesive approach both within GCI and in terms of how it presents itself
to the market.
GCI Group UK is to have a new board, chaired by Wheeler. Ryan, Walters
and Warne all have seats, as do Rupert Ashe, MD of GCI Focus, and Simon
Milton, MD of public affairs specialist APCO, a separate sister firm
also owned by Grey Communications.
My job is to pitch for much bigger business now that there are three
companies and we can therefore do a much more all encompassing job for
big-booted clients,’ Wheeler explained.
GCI London GCI healthcare and GCI Focus and APCO are the four GCI Group
companies.
