Another top executive at French advertising group Havas resigned today leading to speculation that he had been poached by Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP group.
Jim Heekin, the main architect of a recent recovery at Havas's Euro RSCG Worldwide advertising network over the past year resigned as chairman and chief executive to "pursue other opportunities in the industry", the company said in a statement.
Mr Heekin resigned after a raft of management changes at Havas, the world's sixth largest advertising group, brought about by the boardroom coup instigated by corporate raider Vincent Bolloré. These changes include the resignation of the chairman and chief executive, Alain de Pouzilhac, in June.
Industry speculation is that Sir Martin Sorrell has lined up Mr Heekin to replace Ed Meyer as chief executive at Grey Global Group, which WPP bought last year.
Havas appointed Briton David Jones, the head of the New York office of Euro RSCG Worldwide, to be its new chief executive.
The appointment caps a meteoric rise for Mr Jones who just three years ago was running the Sydney outpost of the advertising group, before returning to Europe to run the agency's global client roster.
He moved to the flagship office in New York last September, helping the agency to win the global Jaguar business.
Mercedes Erra and Stephane Fouks, the heads of Euro RSCG France, have been made joint executive chairmen of Euro RSCG Worldwide, while Remi Babinet was named chief creative officer of Euro RSCG Worldwide.
Philippe Wahl, the French banker appointed by Mr Bolloré to be chief executive officer of Havas, thanked Mr Heekin for his contributions and wished him well.
"Over the last two years, Jim installed the necessary groundwork to help guide Euro RSCG through a period of transition," said Mr Wahl, who had excluded Mr Heekin from a power sharing structure he instituted in July.
"I am confident this terrific management team will together lead Euro RSCG Worldwide through a successful turnaround and beyond."
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